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^  From  the  PUBLISHER.  ^ 


BX  5207    .H38  H3  U 
Henry,  Matthew,  1662-1714. 
The  life  of  the  Rev.  Philip 
Henry 


.V 


i 


THE  LIFE 


Rev.  PHILIP  HENRY, 


BY  HIS  SON,  THE 


Rev.  MATTHEW  HENRY. 


ABRIDGED  FOR  THE  BOARD. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

James  russell,  poblishing  agent. 
1840. 


Entered  according  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1840,  by  A.  W. 
Mitchell,  in  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  District  Court  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


PHILADELPHIA. 
WILLIAM  S.  MARTIEN,  PRINTER. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page 

Mr.  Henry's  birth  and  early  religion,       -  9 

CHAPTER  H. 
His  Education,  20 

CHAPTER  m. 

His  settlement  at  Worthenbury — his  ordi- 
nation to  the  ministry,  and  the  exercise 
of  it,  28 

CHAPTER  IV. 

His  marriage — family— family  religion,  and 

the  education  of  his  children,       -       -  74 

CHAPTER  V. 

His  ejectment  from  Worthenbury — his  non- 
conformity— his  removal  to  Broad  Oak, 
and  other  occurrences  up  to  1672,        -  108 


4 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Page 

Occurrences  from  1672  to  1680,       -       -  143 

CHAPTER  VH. 

The  trials  and  persecutions  which  he  en- 
dured between  the  years  1680  and  1687,  153 

CHAPTER  Vm. 
The  last  nine  years  of  his  life,  when  he 
enjoyed  liberty  and  enlargement  at  Broad 
Oak,  from  the  year  1687,    -       -       -  170 

CHAPTER  IX. 
His  sickness,  death,  and  burial,       -       -  205 

CHAPTER  X. 

A  miscellaneous  collection  of  some  of  his 
sayings,  observations,  counsels  and  com- 
forts, out  of  his  sermons,  letters,  and  dis- 
courses,  228 


PREFACE. 


That  which  we  aim  at  in  this  undertaking, 
and  which  we  would  set  before  us  at  our 
entrance  upon  it,  is,  not  so  much  to  embahii 
the  memory  of  this  good  man,  (though  that 
also  is  blessed,)  as  to  exhibit  to  the  world  a 
pattern  of  that  primitive  Christianity,  which 
all  that  knew  him  well,  observed  to  be  exem- 
plified in  him  while  he  lived;  and  when  they 
saw  the  end  of  his  conversation,  as  it  were 
with  one  consent,  desired  a  public  and  lasting 
account  of,  or  rather  demanded  it,  as  a  just 
debt  owing  to  the  world,  by  those  into  whose 
hands  his  papers  came,  as  judging  such  an 
account  likely  to  conduce  much  to  the  glory 
of  God's  grace,  and  to  the  edification  of  many, 
especially  of  those  that  were  acquainted  with 
him.  He  was  one  whom  the  Divine  Provi- 
dence did  not  call  out  (as  neither  did  his  own 
inclination  lead  him)  to  any  very  public  scene 
of  action;  he  was  none  of  the  forward  men  of 
the  age,  that  make  themselves  talked  of:  the 
world  scarce  knew  that  there  was  such  a  man 


6 


PREFACE. 


in  it.  But  in  his  low  and  narrow  sphere  he 
was  a  burning  and  shining  Ught,  and  there- 
fore we  think  his  pious  example  is  the  more 
adapted  to  general  use,  especially  consisting 
not  in  the  extacies  and  raptures  of  zeal  and 
devotion,  which  are  looked  upon  rather  as 
admirable  than  imitable;  but  in  the  long  se- 
ries of  an  even,  regular,  prudent,  and  well- 
ordered  conversation,  which  he  had  in  the 
world,  and  in  the  ordinary  business  of  it, 
with  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity;  not  with 
fleshly  wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God. 

It  has  been  said,  that  quiet  and  peaceable 
reigns,  though  they  are  the  best  to  live  in, 
yet  they  are  the  worst  to  write  of,  as  yielding 
least  variety  of  matter  for  the  historian's  pen 
to  work  upon:  but  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life, 
in  all  godliness  and  honesty,  being  the  sum 
and  substance  of  practical  Christianity,  the 
recommending  of  the  example  of  such  a  life, 
in  the  common  and  famxiliar  instances  of  it; 
together  with  the  kind  and  gracious  provi- 
dences of  God  attending  it,  may  be,  if  not  as 
diverting  to  the  curious,  yet  every  whit  as 
useful  and  instructive  to  the  pious  readers. 

According  to  the  excellent  and  royal  laws 
of  this  holy  religion,  his  life  was  led  with  a 


PREFACE. 


7 


Strict  and  conscientious  adherence  to  truth 
and  equity;  a  great  tenderness  and  inotfen- 
siveness  to  all  mankind;  and  a  strong  tinc- 
ture of  sincere  piety  and  devotedness  to  God: 
and  according  to  those  sacred  rules  we  shall 
endeavour,  in  justice  to  him,  as  well  as  to 
our  reader,  to  represent  him  in  the  following 
account;  and  if  any  thing  should  drop  from 
our  pen,  which  might  justly  give  offence  to 
any,  (which  we  promise  industriously  to 
avoid,)  we  desire  it  may  be  looked  upon  as 
a  false  stroke;  and  so  far  not  truly  represent- 
ing him,  who  was  so  blameless  and  harmless, 
and  without  rebuke. 

Much  of  our  materials  for  this  structure 
we  have  out  of  his  own  papers,  (especially 
his  diary,)  for  by  them  his  picture  may  be 
drawn  nearest  to  the  life,  and  from  thence 
we  may  take  the  truest  idea  of  him,  and  of 
the  spirit  he  was  of.  Those  notes  being  in- 
tended for  his  own  private  use  in  the  review, 
and  never  communicated  to  any  person  what- 
soever, and  appearing  here  (as  they  ought  to 
do)  in  their  own  native  dress,  the  candid  rea- 
der will  excuse  it,  if  sometimes  the  expres- 
sions should  seem  abrupt;  they  are  the  genu- 
ine, unforced  and  unstudied  breathings  of  a 


8 


PREFACE. 


gracious  soul :  and  we  hope  will  Ids  rather 
the  more  acceptable  to  those,  who,  through 
grace,  are  conscious  to  themselves  of  the 
same  devout  and  pious  motions;  for  as  in 
water  face  answers  to  face,  so  does  one  sanc- 
tified and  renewed  soul  to  another;  and  (as 
Mr.  Baxter  observes  in  his  Preface  to  Mr. 
Clark's  Lives)  God's  graces  are  much  the 
same  in  all  his  holy  ones;  and  therefore  we 
must  not  think  that  such  instances  as  these 
are  extraordinary  rarities;  but  God  has  in 
wonderful  mercy  raised  up  many,  by  whose 
graces  even  this  earth  is  perfumed  and  en- 
hghtened.  But  if  one  star  be  allowed  to 
differ  from  another  star  in  glory,  perhaps  our 
reader  will  say,  when  he  has  gone  through 
the  following  account,  that  Mr.  Henry  may 
be  ranked  among  those  of  the  first  magni- 
tude. 


LIFE  OF  REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  at 
Whitehall,  in  Westminster,  on  the  24th  of 
August,  1631. 

His  father's  name  was  John  Henry,  the 
son  of  Henry  Williams,  in  Glamorganshire, 
Wales.  According  to  an  old  custom  in 
Wales,  now  nearly  laid  aside,  the  father's 
Christian  name  became  the  surname  of  the 
son.  His  mother  was  Mrs.  Magdalen  Roch- 
dale of  the  parish  of  St.  Martin's,-in-the- 
Fields.  She  was  a  v/oman  of  piety  and  dis- 
cretion, and  feared  God  above  many.  Though 
her  husband  had  his  employment  about  the 
court,  being  first  one  of  the  Earl  of  Pem- 
broke's gentlemen,  and  afterwards  page  to 
the  duke  of  York ;  yet  she  was  altogether 
dead  to  the  pleasures  of  the  court,  though 
2 


10 


LIFE  OF  THE 


she  lived  in  the  midst  of  them.  She  looked 
well  to  the  ways  of  her  household,  prayed 
with  them  daily,  catechized  her  children,  and 
taught  them  the  good  knowledge  of  the 
Lord,  betimes.  Mr.  Henry  has  been  heard 
to  say,  that  he  learned  Mr.  Perkin's  "  Six 
Principles,"  when  he  was  very  young;  and 
he  often  mentioned  with  great  thankfulness 
to  God,  his  great  happiness  in  having  such 
a  mother,  who  was  to  him  as  Lois  and  Eu- 
nice to  Timothy,  acquainting  him  with  the 
Scriptures  from  his  childhood.  And  there  ap- 
pearing in  himearly  inclinations  both  tolearn- 
ing  and  piety,  she  devoted  him,  in  his  tender 
years,  to  the  service  of  God  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry.  This  excellent  woman  died  of  a 
consumption,  the  6th  of  March,  1645;  leav- 
ing behind  her,  an  only  son,  and  five  daugh- 
ters. A  little  before  she  died,  she  said,  "My 
head  is  in  heaven  and  my  heart  is  in  hea- 
ven; and  it  is  but  one  step  more,  and  I 
shall  be  there  also." 

While  a  child,  he  was  often  the  companion 
and  playmate  of  the  young  princes,  and  they 
were  often  with  him  at  his  father's  house; 
and  they  would  frequently  speak  to  him  of 
the  great  preferment  which  they  intended  for 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


him,  when  he  was  fit  for  it.  And  he  kept  a 
book  to  his  dying  day,  which  was  given  to 
him  by  the  Duke  of  York.  Archbishop  Laud 
also,  took  a  particular  Uking  to  the  boy,  be- 
cause he  was  very  officious  to  attend  at  the 
water-gate,  and  let  him  through,  when  he 
returned  late  from  council j  for  this  was  a 
part  of  his  father's  charge.  But  all  his  early 
prospects  of  court  preferment,  were  blasted, 
by  the  breaking  up  of  the  court,  in  1641 ;  and 
when  he  was  led  at  any  time  to  speak  of 
these  matters,  he  was  wont  to  bless  God  for 
his  deliverance  from  the  snares  of  the  court, 
in  the  midst  of  which  it  is  so  very  hard  to 
maintain  a  good  conscience,  and  the  power 
of  religion.  And  though' it  was  not  like 
Moses,  a  choice  of  his  own,  when  come  to 
years  to  quit  the  court,  yet,  when  he  was 
come  to  years,  he  always  expressed  a  great 
satisfaction  in  a  removal  from  it,  and  blessed 
God  who  chose  his  inheritance  so  much  bet- 
ter for  him,  than  he  would  have  been  likely 
to  do  for  himself.  It  seems,  however,  that 
he  derived  some  exterior  advantages,  from 
his  early  intercourse  with  the  court;  for  it 
was  observable  to  all  who  conversed  with 
him,  that  he  had  a  most  sweet  and  obliging 


12 


LIFE  OF  THE 


air  of  courtesy ;  his  raein  and  carriage  were 
always  so  very  decent  and  respectful,  that  it 
could  not  but  win  the  hearts  of  all  who  were 
conversant  with  him.  Never  was  any  man 
further  from  that  rudeness  and  moroseness, 
which  some  scholars,  and  too  many  that  pro- 
fess religion,  either  affect,  or  carelessly  fall 
into,  to  the  reproach  of  their  profession.  It 
was  one  of  his  rules  to  "  honour  all  men." 
Sanctified  civility  is  a  great  ornament  to 
Christianity.  It  was  with  him  a  proverbial 
saying,  "  religion  does  not  destroy  good  man- 
ners." Yet  he  was  far  from  any  thing  of 
vanity  in  his  apparel,  or  formality  of  compli- 
ment in  his  address.  His  conversation  was 
all  natural  and  easy  to  himself,  and  others, 
and  nothing  appeared  in  him,  which  ever  a 
sincere  critic  could  justly  call  affected.  This 
temper  of  his,  tended  very  much  to  the 
adorning  the  doctrine  of  God  our  Saviour;  • 
and  the  general  imitation  of  such  an  example 
would  do  much  towards  the  healing  of  those 
wounds  which  religion  has  received  in  the 
house  of  her  friends,  by  a  contrary  conduct. 

His  first  Latin  teacher  was,  a  Mr.  Bonner, 
at  St.  Martin's  church.  Afterwards,  he  was 
removed  to  Battersea,  where  he  had  for  his 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


13 


instructor,  a  Mr.  Wells.  In  his  papers,  fre- 
quent mention  is  found  of  his  grateful  recol- 
lections of  the  benefits  derived  from  his 
teachers,  which  may  suggest  to  us  that  weigh- 
ty French  proverb,  "  To  father,  teacher,  and 
God  all-sufficient,  none  can  render  equiva- 
lent." 

In  the  year  1643,  he  was  admitted  into 
Westminster  school,  and  was  under  the  tui- 
tion of  Mr.  Thomas  Vincent,  then  usher,  of 
whom  he  always  spoke  in  the  highest  terms 
of  commendation,  as  a  most  able,  diligent 
school-master.  After  a  while,  he  was  taken 
into  the  upper  school,  and  was  there  under 
the  instruction  of  the  celebrated  Richard  Bus- 
by, afterwards  Dr.  Busby;  and  in  1645,  he 
was  admitted  King's  scholar,  partly  in  conse- 
quence of  merit,  and  partly  through  the  fa- 
vour of  the  Earl  of  Pembroke.  Here  his 
progress  in  classical  learning  was  great,  for 
which  he  retained  his  taste  even  to  the  latest 
period  of  his  life. 

When  the  civil  war  commenced,  he  attend- 
ed frequently,  a  lecture  set  up  in  the  Abbey 
church,  between  six  and  eight  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  preachers  were  seven  of  the  most 
distinguished  members  of  the  assembly  of 


14 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Divines,  then  in  session,  and  were  Mr.  Mar- 
shall, Mr.  Palmer,  Mr.  Herle,  Dr.  Staunton, 
Mr.  Nye,  Mr.  Whitaker,  and  Mr.  Hill.  His 
mother  requested  of  Dr.  Busby  to  give  her  son 
permission  to  attend  that  lecture,  daily,  not 
abating,  however,  of  his  school  exercise,  in 
which  he  kept  pace  with  the  rest;  but  only 
dispensing  with  his  absence  for  that  hour. 
And  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  make  good 
impressions  on  his  soul  by  the  sermons  he 
heard  there.  His  mother  also  took  him, 
every  Thursday,  to  INIr.  Case's  lecture,  at  St. 
Martin's.  On  the  Lord's  day,  he  sat  under 
the  powerful  ministry  of  Mr.  Stephen  Mar- 
shall. This  ministry  he  spake  of  to  the  last 
with  great  respect  and  gratitude  to  God,  as 
that  by  which  he  was,  through  grace,  begot- 
ten again  to  a  lively  hope.  He  has  often 
been  heard  to  remark,  that  it  was  the  saying 
of  some  judicious  men,  at  that  time,  that  if 
all  the  Presbyterians  had  been  like  Stephen 
Marshall,  all  the  Independents  like  Jeremiah 
Burroughs,  and  all  the  Episcopalians  like 
Archbishop  Usher,  the  breaches  of  the  church 
would  soon  have  been  healed. 

Mr.  Henry  also  attended  punctually  on 
the  monthly  fasts  at  St.  Margaret's  chapel, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


15 


where  the  ablest  and  best  ministers  of  Eng- 
land preached  before  the  House  of  Commons. 
On  these  days  the  solemn  services  of  the 
church  were  continued  from  eight  in  the 
morning,  to  ifour  in  the  afternoon.  It  was 
his  constant  practice  to  write  all  the  sermons 
which  he  heard  from  the  time  that  he  had 
reached  his  eleventh  or  twelfth  year.  At 
these  public  meetings,  he  experienced  often, 
sweet  meltings  of  soul  in  prayer ;  and  once, 
in  particular,  when  Mr.  Bridge  prayed,  many 
warm  and  lively  truths  came  home  to  his 
heart.  Under  such  means  he  daily  increased 
in  that  wisdom  and  knowledge,  which  is 
unto  salvation.  His  own  reflections  on  the 
benefits  and  privileges  now  enjoyed,  made 
long  afterwards,  are  worthy  of  being  perused. 
"  If  ever  any  child,"  says  he,  "  such  as  I  then 
was,  between  the  tenth  and  fifteenth  years 
of  my  age,  enjoyed  hne  upon  line,  and  pre- 
cept upon  precept,  I  did.  And  was  it  in  vain  ? 
I  trust  not  altogether  in  vain.  My  soul  re- 
joiceth  and  is  glad  at  the  remembrance  of  it. 
The  word  distilled  as  the  dew  and  dropped 
as  the  rain.  I  loved  it,  and  loved  the  messen- 
gers of  it;  their  very  feet  were  beautiful  to 
me.  And,  Lord,  what  a  mercy  was  it,  that  at 


16 


LIFE  OF  THE 


a  time  when  the  poor  country  was  laid  waste, 
when  the  noise  of  trumpets  and  drums,  and 
the  clattering  of  arms  was  heard  there ;  and 
the  ways  to  Zion  mourned,  that  then  my 
lot  should  be,  where  there  was  peace  and 
quietness;  where  the  voice  of  the  turtle  was 
heard,  and  where  there  was  great  plenty  of 
gospel  opportunities.  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my 
soul !  As  long  as  I  live,  I  will  bless  the  Lord, 
I  will  praise  my  God,  while  I  have  my  being. 
Had  it  been  only  the  restraint  that  was  laid 
upon  me,  whereby  I  was  kept  from  the  sins 
of  other  children  and  youths;  such  as  cursing, 
swearing.  Sabbath  breaking,  and  the  like, 
I  were  bound  to  be  very  thankful ;  but  that 
it  prevailed  through  grace  effectually  to  bring 
me  to  God,  how  much  am  I  indebted,  and 
what  shall  I  render  ?" 

From  his  own  early  experience  he  drew 
several  important  practical  inferences,  as 
I.  That  they  were  to  be  blamed  who  laid  too 
^  much  stress  on  knowing  the  precise  time  of 
conversion.  2.  That  early  piety  should  be 
recommended  to  all  young  people,  as  being 
attended  with  many  benefits  and  much  com- 
fort. He  was  wont  often  to  say  to  the  young, 
"  You  cannot  begin  too  soon  to  be  religious, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


17 


but  you  may  put  it  off  too  long."  When 
discoursing  one  day,  on  ^Matthew  xi.  30,  in 
the  conclusion,  he  appealed  to  the  experience 
of  all  who  had  drawn  in  that  yoke.  ^'  Turn," 
said  he,  "  to  which  of  the  saints  you  will,  and 
they  will  all  agree,  that  they  have  found 
*  wisdom's  ways  pleasantness,'  and  Christ's 
commandments  not  grievous.  And  I  will 
here  witness  for  one,  who  through  grace 
has  in  some  poor  measure,  been  drawing 
in  this  yoke,  now  above  thirty  years,  and 
has  found  it  an  easy  yoke,  and  likes  the 
choice  too  well  to  change." 

3.  He  also  recommended  it  to  parents  to 
bring  their  children  betimes  to  public  ordi- 
nances. He  would  say,  they  are  capable 
sooner  than  we  are  aware  of  receiving  good 
by  them. 

4.  He  also  recommended  to  young  per- 
sons, the  practice  of  writing  sermons.  He 
not  only  followed  this  practice  while  young, 
but  continued  it  until  near  the  close  of  life. 
He  never  wrote  short  hand,  but  had  the  art 
of  taking  the  substance  of  a  sermon  in  a  very 
plain  and  legible  hand,  and  with  a  great  deal 
of  ease. 

But  to  return  to  the  thread  of  our  history. 


18 


LIFE  OF  THE 


At  Westminster  school,  Mr,  Henry  had  the 
happiness  to  gain  the  favour  of  that  eminent 
teacher,  Dr.  Busby,  who  took  up  a  particular 
kindness  for  the  lad,  and  called  him,  his 
child.  It  is  known  to  all,  that  Dr.  Busby 
was  famed  for  the  rigour  of  his  discipline, 
and  severity  of  his  punishments.  But  Mr. 
Henry  well  observes,  that  in  so  large  a 
school,  there  was  need  of  a  strict  discipline: 
and  as  to  himself,  in  the  four  years  that  he 
was  under  him,  he  never  felt  the  weight  of 
his  hand  but  once,  and  then  he  richly  de- 
served all  that  he  got ;  for  being  sent  in  pur- 
suit of  one  who  had  played  truant — he  found 
him  out  where  he  had  hid  himself;  but,  at 
his  earnest  request,  promised  that  he  would 
say  that  he  could  not  find  him.  Next  morn- 
ing, the  truant  coming  under  examination 
was  asked,  whether  he  had  seen  the  monitor, 
and  acknowledged  that  he  had;  at  which  ^ 
Dr.  Busby  was  much  surprised,  and  turned 
his  eyes  on  the  monitor,  with  these  words, 
"What  thou,  my  son!"  and  corrected  him 
on  the  spot,  and  appointed  him  to  make 
some  penitential  verses  in  Latin;  which 
when  he  brought,  he  gave  him  sixpence, 
and  received  him  into  his  favour  again. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


19 


The  custom,  at  Westminster  school,  was, 
that  all  the  king's  scholars  who  stood  candi- 
dates for  an  election  to  the  university,  were 
to  receive  the  Lord's  supper,  the  Easter 
before,  which  he  did  with  the  rest,  in  St. 
Margaret's  church,  in  1647.  And  he  would 
often  speak  of  the  great  pains  which  Dr. 
Busby  took  to  prepare  his  scholars  for  that 
ordinance  ;  and  with  what  skill  and  serious- 
ness of  application,  and  manifest  concern  for 
their  souls,  he  opened  to  them  the  nature  of 
the  duty.  The  reflexions  of  young  Henry, 
on  this  occasion,  show,  that  these  pains  were 
not  lost  upon  him.  The  following  we  have 
from  his  own  hand:  There  had  been  treaties 
before  between  my  soul  and  Jesus  Christ, 
with  some  weak  overtures  towards  him;  but 
then,  then,  I  think  it  was  that  the  match  was 
made,  the  knot  tied.  Then,  I  set  myself  in 
the  strength  of  Divine  grace,  about  the  great 
work  of  self-examination,  in  order  to  repent- 
ance. And  then  I  repented,  that  is  solemnly 
and  seriously,  with  some  meltings  of  soul,  I 
confessed  my  sins  before  God,  original  and 
actual,  judging  and  condemning  myself  for 
them,  and  casting  away  from  me  all  my 
transgressions,  receiving  Christ  Jesus  the 


20 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Lord,  as  the  Lord  my  righteousness,  and 
devoting  and  dedicating  my  whole  self  abso- 
lutely and  unreservedly  to  his  fear  and  ser- 
vice. After  which  coming  to  the  ordinance, 
there,  there^  I  received  Him,  indeed,  and  he 
became  mine — I  say,  mine.  Bless  the  Lord, 
0  my  soul !" 

Of  Dr.  Busby's  agency  in  this  blessed 
work,  he  makes  frequent  mention,  in  divers 
of  his  papers:  "The  Lord  recompense  it," 
says  he,  "  a  thousand  fold  into  his  bosom." 
Encouraged  by  the  good  effects  of  it  in  his 
own  experience,  he  was  himself  accustomed 
when  he  became  a  minister  to  take  like  pains 
with  others,  at  their  first  admission  to  the 
Lord's  table;  and,  through  grace,  saw  the 
comfortable  fruits  of  it,  both  in  his  own 
children,  and  others. 


CHAPTER  n. 

Mr.  Henry  was  admitted  student  of  Christ 
Church,  March  24th,  1647-8.  Soon  after 
this,  the  university,  which  had  now  fallen 
into  the  hands  of  the  Parliament,  was  visit- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


21 


ed  by  their  commissionrers.  Almost  the  sole 
question  proposed  to  the  students  was,  "  Will 
you  submit  to  the  power  of  the  Parliament, 
in  this  present  visitation  ?"  to  which  all 
were  to  give  their  answer  in  writing;  accord- 
ing to  which  they  were  displaced,  or  con- 
tinued. Some,  cheerfully  complied,  while 
others,  absolutely  refused.  Others  plead 
ignorance.  Mr.  Henry's  answer  was,  "  I 
submit  to  the  power  of  the  Parliament  in  the 
present  visitation,  as  far  as  I  may  with  a  safe 
conscience,  and  without  perjury."  The  rea- 
son of  the  last  clause  was,  that  he  had  shortly 
before  taken  the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  su- 
premacy, at  his  admission  into  the  univer- 
sity. It  is  a  characteristic  of  a  conscientious 
man,  that  he  fears  an  oath,  and  Mr.  Henry 
possessed  in  a  high  degree,  this  reverence  for 
the  name  of  God,  which  he  would  by  no 
means  take  in  vain. 

His  first  tutor  was  Mr.  Underwood,  w^ho 
was  a  good  scholar,  and  one  that  attended 
to  the  improvement  of  his  pupils:  but  in  the 
changes  which  now  took  place  in  the  uni- 
versity, he  was  removed,  which  INIr.  Henry 
greatly  regretted.  For  although  Mr.  Fin- 
more,  who  succeded  him,  was  able  enough; 


22 


LIFE  OF  THE 


yet  he  was  not  willing  to  exercise  his  talents 
for  the  interest  of  those  committed  to  his 
charge,  towards  whom  he  had  little  more 
than  the  name  of  a  tutor.  This  he  lamented 
as  an  unhappiness  in  his  first  setting  out; 
but  it  pleased  God  to  give  him  an  interest  in 
the  affections  of  a  young  man,  an  under 
graduate,  but  two  or  three  years  his  senior, 
from  Westminster,  a  Mr.  Richard  Bryan, 
who  took  him  to  be  his  chamber-fellow, 
while  he  continued  at  Oxford.  He  read  to 
him,  looked  over  his  studies,  and  directed 
him  in  them.  Similar  acts  of  kind  conde- 
scension he  received  from  some  others,  in 
the  university. 

He  duly  performed  the  prescribed  college 
exercises.  He  disputed,  every  day,  in  term 
time,  wrote  themes  and  verses,  once  a  week^ 
and  declaimed  when  it  came  to  his  turn. 
But,  in  his  private  papers,  he  bewails  his  ♦ 
want  of  diligence,  and  often  accuses  himself 
of  a  neglect  of  opportunities  of  getting,  and 
doing  good.  He  appears  to  have  had  a  very 
quick  and  deep  sense  of  his  own  failings  and 
infirmities;  and  expresses  much  shame,  sor- 
row, and  self-abhorrence,  for  the  evils  which 
he  observed  in  himself;  and  cries  out  ear- 


KEV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


23 


nestly  for  pardon  and  forgiveness,  in  the 
blood  of  Jesns,  as  if  he  had  been  the  greatest 
of  sinners.  For  though  he  was  a  man  who 
walked  very  closely  with  God;  yet  withal 
he  walked  very  humbly  with  him,  and  lived 
a  life  of  repentance  and  self-denial.  One 
thing  to  which  he  ascribes  the  loss  of  much 
time  at  the  university,  was  his  being  sent 
thither  so  young.  And  he  accordingly  ad- 
vised his  friends,  however  their  sons  might 
be  prepared,  as  to  scholarship,  not  to  send 
them  too  early  from  the  school  to  the  uni- 
versity; till  they  have  discretion  to  govern 
themselves,  "for,"  says  he,  "  while  they  are 
children,  what  can  be  expected,  but  that  they 
mind  childish  things?" 

Another  thing  which  rendered  him  less  in- 
dustrious than  he  ought  to  have  been  was, 
that  coming  from  Westminster  school,  his 
attainments  in  classical  learning  were  far 
superior  to  those  of  most  of  the  students,  and 
he  did  not  feel  himself  pressed  by  the  neces- 
sity of  keeping  pace  with  his  class.  Among 
the  students,  he  tells  us,  there  were,  at  that 
time,  two  classes;  such  as  had  lately  come 
and  were  friends  to  the  Parliament,  who 
were  commonly  serious,  but  of  poor  scholar- 


24 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ship;  the  others  were  of  the  old  spirit  and 
and  way,  enemies  to  the  ParUament,  and  the 
reformation  promoted  by  them.  On  account 
of  their  superior  learning,  young  Henry,  at 
first,  associated  principally  with  these,  and 
had  little  or  no  fellowship  with  those  of  the 
first-mentioned  class.  But  he  soon  found, 
that  his  companions  were  a  snare  to  him, 
and  took  him  off  from  the  hfe  of  religion  and 
communion  with  God.  And  he  offers  the 
most  fervent  thanksgiving  to  God  for  not 
giving  him  up.  "  For  ever  praised  be  the 
riches  of  God's  free  grace,"  says  he,  "  that 
he  was  pleased  still  to  keep  his  hold  of  me, 
and  not  to  let  me  alone,  when  I  was  running 
from  him,  but  set  his  hand  again  the  second 
time,  (as  Isaiah  has  it  xi.  11,)  to  snatch  me 
as  a  brand  out  of  the  fire.^' 

He  considered  his  recovery  from  this  de- 
clension in  the  light  of  a  second  conversion, 
and  was  always  much  affected  with  the  pre- 
venting grace  of  God  in  it,  and  was  sensible 
of  a  double  bond  to  be  for  ever  thankful,  as 
well  as  watchful,  and  humble. 

In  the  end  of  the  year  1648,  he  had  per- 
mission to  visit  his  father  at  Whitehall,  and 
was  there  the  30th  of  the  following  January, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


25 


when  the  king  was  beheaded,  which  awful 
execution  he  witnessed.  Two  things  he 
remarked,  not  noticed  by  historians.  The 
first,  that  when  the  blow  was  given,  there 
was  among  the  thousands  who  were  near 
enough  to  see  the  tragical  scene,  such  a  dis- 
mal, universal  groan,  as  he  never  heard  be- 
fore. The  other  was,  that  during  the  time 
of  the  execution,  bodies  of  troops  were 
marching  from  Charing  Cross  to  King  street; 
and  others  from  King  street  to  Charing  Cross, 
purposely  to  disperse  and  scatter  the  people. 
Upon  all  occasions  he  testified  his  abhorrence 
of  this  unparalleled  action;  and  said,  that  it 
could  not  be  justified;  and  yet  he  did  not 
see  how  it  could  be  called  a  national  sin;  for 
as  the  king  said,  on  the  trial,  not  one  man 
in  ten,  in  the  kingdom  was  consenting  to  it. 
Nor  could  it  be  called  the  sin  of  the  Long 
Parliament,  for  at  the  very  time  when  this 
thing  was  in  agitation,  most  of  them  were  in 
prison;  and  of  those  that  were  left  only 
twenty-seven  out  of  forty  voted  for  it.  But 
the  atrocious  deed  was  perpetrated  by  the 
dominant  party  in  the  army. 

In  the  year  1650,  Mr.  Henry  took  his 
3 


26 


LIFE  OP  THE 


bachelor's  degree,  and  has  recorded  the 
goodness  of  God  in  procuring  him  friends, 
who  aided  him  to  defray  the  expenses,  inci- 
dent to  the  occasion. 

He  would  often  mention  with  thankful- 
ness to  God,  what  great  helps  he  had  then 
in  the  university,  not  only  for  learning,  but 
for  religion  and  piety.  Serious  godliness 
was  in  reputation;  and  besides  the  public 
opportunities  they  had,  many  of  the  scholars 
were  used  to  meet  together  for  prayer  and 
Christian  conference,  to  the  great  confirming 
of  one  another's  hearts  in  the  fear  and  love 
of  God,  and  in  preparing  them  for  the  ser- 
vice of  the  church  in  their  generation.  The 
university  sermons  which  had  been  accus- 
tomed to  be  preached  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
Lord's  day,  by  the  fellows,  were  now  under- 
taken by  Dr.  Owen  and  Dr.  Goodwin,  who 
performed  the  service  alternately. 

In  December  1652,  he  proceeded  Master 
of  Arts,  and  in  January  following  preached 
his  first  sermon,  at  Hinckley,  in  Oxfordshire, 
on  John  viii.  34:  "  Whosoever  committeth 
sin  is  the  servant  of  sin."  On  this  occasion, 
he  writes,  in  his  diary,  "  The  Lord  make  use 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


27 


of  me  as  an  instrument  for  his  glory,  and  of 
his  church's  good,  in  this  high  and  holy  call- 
ing!" 

Notwithstanding  his  deep  humility  and 
great  modesty,  his  vigorous  talents  and  high 
attainments  could  not  be  concealed;  so  that 
in  1653,  he  was  chosen  out  of  all  the  masters, 
to  answer  the  questions  in  philosophy;  and 
the  following  year,  a  similar  honour  was  con- 
ferred on  him.  The  public  exercises  which 
he  was  required  to  perform,  on  these  occa- 
sions, gained  for  him  a  high  reputation;  and 
particularly  attracted  the  attention  of  Dr. 
Owen,  who  was  then  the  Vice-chancellor. 
He  was  heard  afterwards  to  speak  very  re- 
spectfully of  the  performances  of  Mr.  Henry, 
with  whom  he  had  then  no  acquaintance. 
A  worthy  divine,  who  was  somewhat  his 
junior  in  the  university,  informed  his  biogra- 
pher, how  much  he  admired  these  exercises 
of  JNIr.  Henry,  and  loved  him  for  them;  and 
yet  how  much  more  he  admired,  when  he 
became  acquainted  with  him  in  the  country, 
that  so  curious  and  polite  an  orator  should 
become  so  profitable  and  powerful  a  preach- 
er; and  so  readily  lay  aside  the  enticing 


28 


LIFE  OF  THE 


words  of  man's  wisdom,  which  were  so  easy 
to  him. 

There  is  extant,  a  copy  of  some  Latin 
verses  of  his  in  print,  among  the  poems 
which  the  University  of  Oxford  published, 
on  the  peace  conckided  with  Holland,  in  the 
year  1654,  which  show  him  to  have  been  no 
less  a  poet,  than  an  orator. 

He  mentions,  that  some  pious  young  men, 
upon  leaving  the  university  to  go  into  the 
country  kept  a  day  of  fasting  and  humilia- 
tion, on  account  of  the  sins  committed  by 
them  in  that  place.  And  in  the  notice  which 
he  has  recorded  of  his  visits  to  the  university, 
after  he  left  it,  we  find  this  laconic  but  em- 
phatic entry,  "  A  tear  dropt  over  my  univer- 
sity sins." 


CHAPTER  HI. 

His  settlement  at  Worthenbury — His  ordination  to  the 
ministry,  and  his  exercise  of  it. 

Worthenbury  was  a  small  town  on  the 
Dee,  on  the  borders  of  Wales.    Mr.  Henry's 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


29 


coming  to  this  place  was  directed  by  the  fol- 
lowing providential  indications.  Mrs.  Piiles- 
ton,the  lady  of  Judge  Puleston,  had  written  to 
a  Mr.  Palmer,  at  Oxford,  to  obtain  for  her  a 
tutor  for  her  sons,  then  preparing  for  college; 
who  should  also  preach  on  the  Lord's  days,  in 
the  church  at  Worthenbury.  Mr.  Palmer  re- 
commended his  friend,  Mr.  Henry,  who  con- 
sented to  make  trial  of  the  place,  for  one  half 
year,  on  condition  that  he  should  not  be  re- 
quired to  preach  more  than  one  sermon,  on 
the  Sabbath.  Before  leaving  the  university 
he  had  applied  himself  almost  entirely  to  the 
study  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  found  great 
dehght,  as  well  as  profit,  in  this  course  of 
study.  He  used  often  to  say,  "  I  read  other  , 
books  that  I  may  be  the  better  able  to  under- 
stand the  Scriptures."  It  was  a  stock  of 
Scripture  knowledge  with  which  he  set  up, 
and  with  that  he  traded  to  good  advantage. 
Though  he  was  so  great  a  master  in  the  elo- 
quence of  Cicero,  yet  he  greatly  preferred 
that  of  Apollos,  "  who  was  an  eloquent  man 
and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures."  (Acts  xviii. 
24.)  He  had,  indeed,  a  fair  prospect  of 
university  preferment,  but  the  salvation  of^ 
souls  was  that  on  which  his  heart  wa 


30 


LIFE  OF  THE 


set,  to  which  he  postponed  all  other  inte- 
rests. 

In  September  1653,  he  came  to  Emeral, 
the  seat  of  Judge  Puleston,  where  he  was  cor- 
dially received.  When  he  passed  the  brook 
which  separated  Flintshire  from  Shropshire, 
nothing  was  further  from  his  thoughts  than 
a  permanent  residence  in  that  strange  coun- 
try. Often,  afterwards,  when  God  had  pros- 
pered him  and  built  him  up  a  house  there, 
he  would  adopt  the  language  of  Jacob,  and 
say,  "  With  my  staff,  I  passed  over  this  Jor- 
dan, and  now  I  am  become  two  bands.^' 

At  Emeral,  he  prayed  in  the  family,  was 
tutor  to  the  young  gentlemen,  and  preached 
once  a  day  at  Worthenbury.  On  one  occa- 
sion the  person  expected  to  supply  the  pulpit 
the  other  part  of  the  day  did  not  come,  on 
Avhich  occasion,  he  was  called  upon  to  preach 
unexpectedly,  which  service  he  performed 
so  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  that  he 
was  led  to  apply  to  himself  that  promise, 
"As  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be;'' 
and  made  this  remark,  "  We  do  not  know 
what  we  can  do  until  we  have  tried." 

In  his  preaching  to  the  people  here,  he 
studied  a  plain,  practical  style  of  speaking. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


31 


and  would  sometimes  say  in  the  pulpit,  "  We 
study  so  to  speak,  that  you  may  understand 
us;  and  I  never  think  I  can  speak  plain 
enough,  when  I  am  speaking  about  souls 
and  their  salvation." 

When  his  half  year  was  ended,  he  return- 
ed to  the  university;  not  expecting  to  return 
again;  but  the  people  were  very  unwilling 
to  part  with  him;  and  he  received  a  very 
pious  and  affecting  letter  from  lady  Puleston, 
who  was  not  only  a  person  of  eminent  piety, 
but  of  uncommon  learning.  A  few  extracts 
from  this  letter  will  show  her  spirit,  and  also 
in  what  estimation  the  labours  of  Mr.  Henry 
were  held  in  Worthenbury. 

Dear  Mr.  Henry:****  This  I  am  sure,  that 
having  wanted  a  good  minister  of  the  word 
among  us,  I  have  oft  by  prayer  and  some 
tears,  above  five  years,  besought  the  Lord 
for  such  an  one  as  yourself;  which  having 
obtained,  I  cannot  yet  despair,  seeing  he 
hath  given  us  the  good  means,  but  he  may 
give  us  also  the  good  end.  And  this  I  find, 
that  your  audience  is  increased  three  for  one, 
in  the  parish,  and  five  for  one,  out  of  other 
places.  And  I  have  not  heard  of  their  being 
in  the  ale-house,  on  the  Lord's  day,  nor 


32  I'IFE  OF  THE 

playing  ball,  that  day,  which  before  you 
came  was  frequent.  I  think  I  can  name  four 
or  five  in  the  parish  that  of  formal  professors, 
are  becoming,  or  become  real  Christians. 
But  you  know  all  are  not  wrought  upon  at 
first,  by  the  word;  yet  God  may  have  re- 
served those  that  have  not  bowed  the  knee 
to  Baal,  and  may  call  them  at  the  latter  part 
of  the  day,  though  not  in  this  half  year. 
It  is  a  good  sign,  most  are  loth  to  part  with 
you;  and  you  have  done  more  good  in  this 
half  year  than  I  have  discerned  these  eight- 
een years.  But,  however,  whether  they 
will  hear  or  forbear  you  have  delivered  your 
own  soul.  I  have  prayed  and  do  pray,  see- 
ing God  hath  sent  you,  that  you  may  be  for 
his  glory,  and  not  for  our  condemnation." 

After  he  had  again  settled  himself  at  Ox- 
ford, the  lady  Puleston  came  with  her  five 
sons,  the  two  oldest  of  whom,  she  placed  un- 
der his  care  in  the  college. 

In  the  following  vacation  he  visited  his 
friends  in  London,  and  while  there,  received 
a  very  solemn  and  affectionate  letter  from 
Judge  Puleston,  inviting  him  to  return,  and 
resume  his  ministerial  labours  among  them. 
He  still  retained  his  student's  place  in  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


33 


university,  visiting  it,  once  a  year,  to  comply 
with  the  statutes;  but  on  receiving  the  ear- 
nest call,  just  mentioned,  he  returned  to 
Worthenbury,  and  settled  there. 

The  living  of  Worthenbury  was  poor,  and 
laboured  under  some  embarrassment,  on  ac- 
count of  its  connexion  with  the  parish  of 
Bangor,  from  which  it  had  never  been  en- 
tirely separated.  ludge  Puleston,  therefore, 
generously  made  a  settlement  on  Mr.  Henry, 
of  one  hundred  pounds  sterling,  until  such 
time  as  he  should  be  promoted  to  some  other 
ecclesiastical  living.  This  sum  was  more 
than  all  the  tithes  of  Worthenbury  produced, 
and  saved  him  from  the  uncertainty  and  per- 
plexity of  collecting  the  tithes. 

Mr.  Henry  continued  for  some  time,  to  re- 
side in  the  Emeral  family.  Here  he  was 
attentive  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  every 
member,  even  the  meanest  of  the  servants. 
He  was  diligent  in  instructing  them  by  cate- 
chizing, by  repeating  sermons,  and  personal 
conversation;  and  he  had  the  happiness  of 
being  countenanced  by  the  Judge  and  his 
lady,  in  all  his  efforts  to  do  good ;  yet  from 
his  private  diary  it  appears,  that  even  here 
he  had  his  trials ;  for  all  the  members  of  the 
4 


34 


LIFE  OF  THE 


family  were  not  so  well  aflfected  towards  him, 
but  felt  his  presence  to  be  a  disagreeable  re- 
straint upon  them,  therefore  he  thought  it 
expedient  to  look  out  for  a  home  of  his  own. 
Which  as  soon  as  Judge  Puleston  perceived, 
he  added  to  his  former  kindness  and  gener- 
osity, by  having  a  convenient  and  handsome 
house  built  for  his  accommodation,  in  Wor- 
thenbury ;  and  settled  it  on  him  by  a  lease 
bearing  date  March  6th,  1657,  for  threescore 
years,  if  he  should  continue  so  long  minister 
at  Worthenbury,  and  did  not  receive  better 
preferment. 

The  Judge  having  thus  generously  made 
provision  for  his  comfortable  settlement,  in  the 
year  1659,  by  a  writing  under  his  own  hand, 
collated  and  presented  Mr.  Henry  to  the 
church  at  Worthenbury,  in  which  act  he  re- 
ceived the  approbation  of  the  Parliament's 
commissioners  for  the  approbation  of  public 
preachers.  Mr.  Fogg,  the  rector  of  Bangor, 
at  first  made  some  opposition  to  his  settle- 
ment, on  account  of  the  claim  which  Bangor 
had  to  Worthenbury,  as  being  a  part  of  the 
parish,  of  which  he  was  rector;  but  this  mat- 
ter was  readily  settled,  by  his  agreeing  to 
task  Mr.  Fogg's  leave,  to  occupy  that  station. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


35 


Before  it  was  settled,  he  wrote  in  his  diary, 
"  I  do  earnestly  desire  that  the  Judge  may 
give  J\[r.  Fogg,  all  reasonable  satisfaction, 
that  there  be  no  appearance  of  wrong  to 
him."  During  the  whole  time  of  his  resi- 
dence at  Worthenbury,  there  existed  an  inti- 
mate friendship  between  him  and  Mr.  Fogg. 

The  subject  of  ordination  now  claimed  his 
attention.  The  nearest  class,  or  Presbytery, 
was  in  Bradford,  Shropshire,  which  had 
been  constituted  by  ordinance  of  parliament, 
in  April,  1647.  It  was  his  desire  to  be  or- 
dained at  Worthenbury,  in  the  presence  of 
the  people,  but  the  ministers  were  not  wil- 
ling to  set  such  a  precedent;  and  on  this  and 
other  accounts,  the  ordination  was  delayed 
until  the  16th  of  September,  1657.  In  this 
solemnity,  every  thing  was  conducted  accord- 
ing to  the  Directory  of  the  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines, and  the  common  usage  of  the  Presby- 
terians. But  as  his  papers  contain  a  full  ac- 
count of  the  whole  proceeding,  it  will  doubt- 
less be  gratifying  to  many,  to  have  the  de- 
tails exhibited. 

The  first  step  taken  by  the  Presbytery 
was  to  inquire  respecting  the  work  of  grace 
in  his  heart.    In  answer  to  which  he  gave 


36 


LIFE  OP  THE 


a  reason  of  the  hope  that  was  in  him  with 
meekness  and  fear.  He  said,  he  hoped  that 
the  spirit  of  grace  had  been  dealing  with 
him  when  he  was  young,  and  he  hoped  had 
discovered  to  him  his  need  of  Christ,  and  had 
bowed  his  will,  in  some  measure,  to  close 
with  him  on  his  own  terms,  &:c.  His  skill  in 
the  original  languages  was  then  tried,  and  he 
read  and  construed  two  verses  in  the  He- 
brew, and  two  in  the  Greek  Testament.  He 
was  then  examined  in  logic  and  natural  phi- 
losophy; next  in  divinity,  and  what  authors 
he  had  read,  and  what  knowledge  he  had  of 
the  mediation  of  Jesiis  Christ.  A  trial  was 
also  made  of  his  skill  in  exegesis,  by  pro- 
pounding to  him  some  difficult  texts  for  his 
solution.  His  ability  to  resolve  cases  of 
conscience  was  also  put  to  the  test;  and  final- 
ly he  was  examined  as  to  his  acquaintance 
with  church  history.  The  examinations  and 
trials  were  not  concluded  at  this  meeting  of 
the  presbytery;  and  they  gave  him  as  a 
question  for  a  Latin  thesis,  "  An  Providentia 
Divinaextendat  se  ad  omnia  ?"  On  this  ques- 
tion he  exhibited  his  thesis,  August  3d,  and 
defended  it  against  the  objections  of  the 
members.    Mr.  Porter  acted  as  moderator. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


37 


He  then  produced  two  certificates  of  good 
character,  &c.,  the  one  from  the  university, 
signed  by  Dr.  Wilkinson  and  Dr.  Langley ; 
the  other  from  the  ministers  in  his  vicinity, 
Mr.  Steel,  Mr. Fogg,  &c.  September  16th  was 
appointed  as  the  day  for  his  ordination.  On 
the  preceding  Lord's  day,  a  paper  was  pub- 
licly read  in  the  church,  at  Worthenbury, 
and  afterwards  affixed  to  the  church  door, 
giving  notice  of  the  intended  ordination,  and 
signifying,  "that  if  any  person  could  produce 
any  just  exceptions  against  the  life  or  doc- 
trines of  the  said  Mr.  Henry,  or  any  suffi- 
cient reason  why  he  might  not  be  ordained, 
they  should  certify  the  same  to  the  classis,  or 
the  scribe,  and  it  should  be  heard  and  consi- 
dered.^' 

On  the  day  of  ordination,  a  very  great  as- 
sembly was  gathered  together.  Mr.  Porter 
introduced  the  service  with  prayer.  Mr. 
Parsons  preached  the  sermon  on  1  Tim.  i. 
12,  "I  thank  Christ  Jesus  who  hath  enabled 
me,  for  that  he  counted  me  faithful,  putting 
me  into  the  ministry."  After  sermon  he  was 
called  upon  to  give  a  confession  of  his  faith, 
which  he  did  in  the  following  words; 

"  The  ground  and  rule  of  my  faith  towards 


38 


LIFE  OP  THE 


God,  is  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  and  New 
Testament.  I  believe  they  were  written  by 
holy  men,  immediately  inspired  by  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Having  found  the  efficacy  of  them, 
in  some  measure,  in  my  own  heart,  I  believe 
they  are  further  able  to  make  me  wise  unto 
salvation. 

"  Concerning  God,  I  believe,  that  he  is, 
and  that  he  is  the  rewarder  of  those  that  dili- 
gently seek  him.  The  Trinity  of  the  God- 
head I  receive  and  own,  as  a  truth.  I  ad- 
mire and  adore  the  mystery:  though  no  man 
hath  seen  God  at  any  time,  yet  the  only  be- 
gotten Son,  who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  he  hath  revealed  him,  and  what  he 
hath  declared  concerning  him,  that  I  believe. 
I  believe  that  God  is  a  Spirit,  for  the  Son 
hath  said,  ^God  is  a  Spirit.'  I  believe,  that 
he  hath  life  hi  himself,  and  hath  given  to  the 
Son  to  have  hfe  in  himself.  I  believe,  that 
all  things  were  made  by  him,  and  without 
him  was  not  any  thing  made  which  was 
made.  I  believe,  by  his  providence,  he  pre- 
serves, guides,  and  governs  all  the  creatures, 
according  to  the  purpose  of  his  own  will,  to 
his  own  glory;  for  'the  Father  worketh 
hitherto,  and  the  Son  also  worketh.'    I  be- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


39 


lieve  he  made  man  upright  after  his  own 
image  and  likeness,  which  image  consisted 
Mn  knowledge,  righteousness,  and  true  holi- 
ness,' but  man,  by  sin,  lost  it. 

"  I  believe  that  we  were  all  in  the  loins  of 
our  first  parents,  and  that  they  stood  and 
fell  as  public  persons,  and  upon  that  account 
justly,  without  any  colour  of  wrong,  we  bear 
our  share,  both  in  the  guilt  of  their  disobe- 
dience, and  also  in  the  corruption  of  nature 
following  thereupon,  so  that  we  come  into 
the  world,  children  of  wrath,  and  heirs  of  the 
curse,  one  as  well  as  another;  enemies  to 
God,  hating  him,  and  hated  of  him;  averse 
to  all  that  is  good,  and  prone  to  all  manner  of 
evil.  Though  all  are  born  in  this  condition, 
there  are  some  that  do  not  die  in  it. 

"  J  believe,  that  there  is  a  Mediator,  and 
but  one  Mediator,  between  God  and  men, 
the  man  Christ  Jesus.  Those  whom  the 
Father  hath  from  everlasting  pitched  his  love 
upon,  and  given  to  Christ;  not  because  of 
works  or  faith  foreseen,  but  merely  of  his 
free  grace;  for  those  I  believe,  Christ  was 
sent  into  the  world,  made  of  a  woman,  made 
under  the  law.  For  their  sakes  he  sanctified 
himself,  and  became  obedient  to  death,  even 


40 


LIFE  OF  THE 


the  death  of  the  cross;  wherefore  God  also 
hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  having  raised 
him  from  the  dead  on  the  third  day,  set  him 
at  his  own  right  hand,  where  he  ever  lives  to 
make  intercession  for  those  for  whom  he 
shed  his  blood.  All  these  elect,  redeemed 
ones,  I  believe  are  in  due  time,  sooner  or 
later  in  their  lives,  effectually  called,  washed, 
sanctified,  justified,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  by  the  Spirit  of  our  God. 

"  I  believe,  the  righteousness  of  Christ 
alone,  apprehended  by  faith,  is  the  matter  of 
our  justification,  before  God;  and  that  no 
flesh  can  stand  in  his  sight,  upon  any  other 
terms;  for  he  is  the  lord  our  righteous- 
ness, and  in  him  only  is  the  Father  well 
pleased. 

"  I  believe,  the  work  of  sanctification, 
managed  by  the  Spirit  who  dwelleth  in  us, 
though  in  respect  of  parts  it  is  complete;  for 
the  whole  man  is  renewed;  yet  in  respect  of 
degrees  is  not  fully  perfected,  till  we  come  to 
glory;  and  I  believe,  that  all  that  are  justi- 
fied,, shall  be  glorified;  for  we  are  kept  by 
the  power  of  God,  through  faith  unto  salva- 
tion. 

"  I  believe,  the  gathering  in  and  building 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


41 


up  the  saints,  is  the  special  end  why  pastors 
and  teachers  are  appointed  in  the  church; 
and  that  Jesus  Christ,  according  to  his  pro- 
mise, will  be  with  them,  in  that  work  unto 
the  end  of  the  world. 

"  The  two  sacraments  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, baptism  and  the  Lord's  supper,  I  re- 
ceive and  own  as  signs  and  seals  of  the 
covenant  of  grace:  the  former,  instituted  by 
our  Lord  Jesus  as  a  sign  and  seal  of  our  in- 
grafting into  Christ,  due  of  right,  to  all  the 
infants  of  believing  parents,  and  but  once  to 
be  administered:  the  other  instituted  by  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  the  night  wherein  he 
was  betrayed,  to  show  forth  his  death,  and 
to  seal  the  benefits  purchased  thereby,  to 
his  church  and  people,  and  to  be  often  re- 
peated. 

"  When  the  body  returns  to  the  dust,  I 
believe,  the  soul  returns  to  God  that  gave 
it;  and  that  immediately,  it  receives  from 
him  the  sentence,  according  to  what  hath 
been  done  in  the  flesh  ;  either,  ^  Come,  inherit 
the  kingdom; — or.  Depart,  accursed  into  ever- 
lasting fire.' 

"  I  believe,  beside  this,  a  day  of  general 
judgment  in  the  end  of  the  world,  wherein, 


42 


LIFE  OF  THE 


we  must  all  appear  before  the  judgment  seat 
of  Christ — and  that  our  bodies  being  raised 
by  an  Almighty  power  from  the  dust,  shall 
be  united  to  the  same  souls  again,  and  shall 
partake  with  them  in  the  same  condition, 
either  of  happiness  or  misery,  to  all  eternity. 
Those  that  have  done  good,  shall  come  forth 
unto  the  resurrection  of  life,  and  those  that 
have  done  evil,  to  the  resurrection  of  damna- 
tion. 

"  This,"  said  he,  "  is  the  sum  and  sub- 
stance of  my  faith,  into  which  I  was  bap- 
tized, and  in  which,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I 
will  live  and  die."  Mr.  Parsons,  in  the 
name  and  by  the  appointment  of  the  presby- 
tery, proposed  certain  questions  to  him, 
which  with  the  answers,  are  here  subjoined. 

Q.  1.  "What  are  your  ends  in  under- 
taking the  work  and  calling  of  a  minister  ? 

A.  "  As  far  as  upon  search  and  inquiry, 
I  can  hitherto  find,  though  there  be  that 
within  me,  that  would  seek  great  things  for 
myself— if  indeed  they  were  to  be  found  in 
this  calling — yet  with  my  mind,  I  seek  them 
not.  But  the  improvement  of  the  talent 
which  I  have  received  in  the  service  of  the 
gospel,  for  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  salva- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


43 


tion  of  souls,  I  hope,  is  in  my  eye.  If  there 
be  any  thing  else,  I  own  it  not.  While  so 
many  seek  their  own,  it  is  my  desire,  and 
shall  be  my  endeavour,  to  seek  the  things  of 
Jesus  Christ. 

Q.  2.  '^What  are  your  purposes,  as  to 
diligence  and  industry  in  this  calling  ? 

A.  "  I  do  purpose  and  resolve,  by  the  help 
of  God,  to  give  myself  wholly  to  these  things; 
to  prayer,  reading, meditation,  instant  preach- 
ing in  season  and  out  of  season,  wherein  ^  I 
shall  very  gladly  spend  and  be  spent,  if  by 
any  means,  I  may  both  save  myself  and 
them  that  hear  me.'  And  when  at  any  time 
I  fail  herein,  I  desire  God  by  his  Spirit,  and 
my  Christian  friends,  neighbours,  and  breth- 
ren, by  seasonable  reproof  and  admonition, 
to  put  me  in  mind  of  this  engagement  now 
made  in  the  presence  of  this  great  congrega- 
tion. 

Q.  3.  "  Do  you  mean  to  be  zealous  and 
faithful  in  defence  of  truth  and  unity  against 
error  and  schism  ? 

A.  "  I  believe  what  the  Spirit  hath  fore- 
told, that  in  the  last  days,  perilous  times 
shall  come,  wherein  men  will  not  endure 
sound  doctrine,  but  after  their  own  lusts  shall 


44 


LIFE  OF  THE 


heap  to  themselves  teachers.  'Tis  my  reso- 
lution, by  the  grace  of  Christ,  to  watch  in 
all  things;  to  contend  earnestly  for  the  faith, 
to  hold  fast  the  form  of  sound  and  whole- 
some words,  even  the  words  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  the  doctrine  which  is  ac- 
cording to  godliness,  in  meekness,  as  I  am 
able,  instructing  those  that  oppose  them- 
selves. And  for  peace  and  unity,  if  my 
heart  deceive  me  not,  I  shall  rather  choose 
to  hazard  the  loss  of  any  thing  that  is  most 
dear  to  me,  than  be  any  way  knowingly  ac- 
cessory to  the  disturbance  of  these,  in  the 
churches  of  Christ. 

Q.  4.  "  What  is  your  persuasion  of  the 
truth  of  the  reformed  religion? 

A.  "My  persuasion  is,  that  the  Bishop 
of  Rome  is  that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  per- 
dition, whom  the  Lord  Jesus  will  consume 
with  the  spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  whom  he 
will  destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his 
coming.  And  the  separation  which  our  first 
reformers  made,  I  do  heartily  rejoice  in,  and 
bless  God  for;  for  had  we  still  continued  to 
partake  with  him  in  his  sins,  we  should  in 
the  end  have  been  partakers  in  his  plagues. 

Q.  5.  "  What  do  you  intend  to  do  when 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


45 


the  Lord  shall  alter  your  condition,  and 
bring  a  family  under  your  charge  ? 

A.  "  When  the  Lord,  in  his  providence, 
shall  bring  me  into  new  relations,  I  hope  he 
will  give  me  grace  to  fill  them  up  with  duty. 
It  is  my  purpose,  to  wait  upon  him  and 
keep  his  way;  to  endeavour,  in  the  use  of 
means,  that  all  that  are  mine  may  be  the 
Lord's. 

Q.  6.  "  Will  you  in  humility  and  meek- 
ness submit  to  admonition  and  discipline  ? 

A.  "  I  believe  it  to  be  a  duty  incumbent  on 
all  that  profess  the  name  of  Christ,  to  watch 
over  one  another,  and  that  when  any  one  is 
overtaken  in  a  fault,  those  that  are  spiritual 
are  to  set  him  in  joint  again,  with  the  spirit 
of  meekness.  It  shall  be  my  endeavour,  in 
the  strength  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  walk  without 
rebuke,  and  when  at  any  time  I  step  aside 
(for  who  is  there  that  lives  and  sins  not?)  I 
shall  count  the  smitings  of  my  brethren 
kindness,  and  their  wounds  faithful. 

Q.  7.  "  What  if  troubles,  persecutions,  and 
discouragements  arise,  will  you  hold  out  to 
the  end,  notwithstanding  ? 

A.  "  Concerning  this  I  am  very  jealous 
over  my  own  heart,  and  there  is  cause.  I 


46 


LIFE  OF  THE 


have  a  great  want  of  that  zeal  and  courage 
for  God,  which  I  know  is  required  in  a 
minister  of  the  gospel;  nevertheless,  I  per- 
suade myself  that  no  temptation  shall  befall 
me  but  such  as  is  common  to  man,  and  that 
God  who  is  faithful,  will  not  suffer  me  to  be 
tempted  above  that  which  I  am  able,  but  that 
with  the  temptation  he  will  make  a  way  also 
to  escape,  that  I  may  be  able  to  bear  it.  I 
promise  faithfulness  to  the  death,  but  I  trust 
not  at  all  in  my  promises  to  God,  but  in  his 
to  m^e.  ^When  thou  goest  through  the  fire 
and  through  the  water,  I  will  be  with  thee.'^' 

When  these  questions  were  propounded 
and  answered,  as  above  stated,  Mr.  Parsons 
prayed,  and  in  prayer,  he  and  the  rest  of  the 
presbytery,  viz.  Messrs.  Porter,  Houghton, 
Maiden,  and  Steel,  laid  their  hands  upon 
him,  with  words  to  this  purpose:  "Whom 
we  do  thus,  in  thy  name,  set  apart  to  the 
work  and  office  of  the  ministry.^'  Five 
others,  after  a  similar  examination,  were  or- 
dained at  the  same  time. 

The  solemn  service  was  closed  by  an  ex- 
hortation or  charge  to  the  newly  ordained 
ministers,  by  Mr.  Maiden,  of  Newport.  One 
sentence  of  this  charge  Mr.  Henry,  in  his 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


47 


diary,  says, went  to  his  heart,  "As the  nurse 
puts  the  meat  first  into  her  own  mouth  and 
chews  it,  and  then  feeds  the  child  with  it,  so 
should  ministers  do  by  the  word;  preach  it 
over  before  hand  to  their  own  hearts;  it  loses 
none  of  its  virtue  thereby,  but  rather,  proba- 
bly, gains;  as  that  milk  nourisheth  most 
which  comes  warm  from  the  warm  breast, 
so  that  sermon  which  comes  warm  from  a 
warm  heart.'  Lord  quicken  me  to  do  thy 
will  in  this  thing!" 

The  classis  now  gave  to  each  of  the  newly 
ordained  ministers  a  certificate,  on  parch- 
ment, as  a  testimony  unto  all  that  they  were 
regular  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  author- 
ized to  administer  the  sacraments,  as  well  as 
to  preach  the  word:  to  which  writing  each 
of  the  ordaining  ministers  subscribed  his 
name.  Mr.  Henry's  appearance  and  man- 
ner, on  that  day,  were  so  peculiarly  solemn 
and  devout,  that  a  deep  impression  was 
made  on  those  who  were  witnesses  of  the 
solemn  scene. 

In  his  diary  he  has  the  following  remarks: 
"  Methought  I  saw  much  of  God  in  the  car- 
rying on  the  work  of  this  day.  0,  how  good 
is  the  Lord.    He  is  good,  and  doth  good. 


48 


LIFE  OF  THE 


The  remembrance  of  it  I  shall  never  lose. 
To  him  be  glory.  I  made  many  promises  of 
diligence,  faithfulness,  &.c.  but  I  lay  no  stress 
at  all  on  them,  but  on  God's  promise  to  me, 
that  he  will  be  with  his  ministers  always  to 
the  end  of  the  world,  Amen,  Lord,  so  be  it. 
Make  good  thy  word  unto  thy  servant, 
wherein  thou  hast  caused  me  to  put  my 
trust."  And  in  another  place,  he  says,  "I 
did,  this  day,  receive  as  much  honour  and 
work  as  ever  I  shall  be  able  to  know  what 
to  do  with.  Lord  Jesus,  proportion  supplies 
accordingly."  Two  scriptures  he  desired 
might  be  written  on  his  heart,  "  But  in  all 
things  approving  ourselves  as  the  ministers 
of  God,  in  much  patience,  in  afflictions,  in 
necessities,  in  distresses,  in  stripes,  in  impri- 
sonments, in  tumults,  in  labours,  in  watch- 
ings,  in  fastings."  2  Cor.  vi.  4,  5.  "  My  sons, 
be  not  now  negligent:  for  the  Lord  hath 
chosen  you  to  stand  before  him,  to  serve  him, 
and  that  ye  should  minister  unto  him,  and 
burn  incense."  2  Chron.  xxix.  IL 

Two  years  afterwards,  on  occasion  of  an 
ordination  at  Whitechurch,  he  thus  writes: 
"This  day  my  ordination  covenants  were  in 
a  special  manner  renewed,  as  to  diligence  in 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


49 


reading,  prayer,  meditation,  faithfulness  in 
preaching,  admonition,  catechizing,  sacra- 
ments, zeal  against  error  and  profaneness, 
care  to  preserve  and  promote  the  unity  and 
purity  of  the  church,  notwithstanding  oppo- 
sition and  persecution,  though  to  death. 
Lord,  thou  hast  filled  my  hands  with  work, 
fill  my  heart  with  wisdom  and  grace,  that  I 
may  discharge  my  duty  to  thy  glory,  and  my 
own  salvation,  and  that  of  those  that  hear 
me.  Amen.^' 

Having  given  an  account  of  Mr.  Henry's 
solemn  consecration  to  the  ministry,  it  will 
be  proper  to  relate  how  he  fulfilled  the  re- 
sponsible engagements  into  which  he  now 
entered.  And  before  we  proceed  to  particu- 
lar  details,  it  may  be  proper  to  say  something 
about  the  charge  of  Worthenbury,  of  which 
he  had  taken  the  pastoral  oversight.  The 
sphere  was  too  narrow  for  such  a  burning 
and  shining  light.  There  were  but  forty-one 
communicants,  in  that  parish,  when  he  first 
administered  the  Lord's  supper,  and  this 
number  was  never  doubled  while  he  labour- 
ed there.  No  more  convincing  evidence 
could  be  desired  of  his  unfeigned  humility 
and  low  estimation  of  himself  than  the  fact 
5 


50 


LIFE  OF  THE 


that  he  never  aspired  to  a  larger  sphere,  and 
would  never  listen  to  any  overtures  of  that 
kind,  which  were  made  to  him.  And  his 
contentment  with  this  obscure  and  small 
parish,  did  not  arise  from  any  desire  to  spare 
himself,  or  any  reluctance  to  labour;  for  such 
was  his  concern  for  immortal  souls,  that  he 
laid  out  himself  with  as  much  diligence  and 
vigour  here,  as  if  he  had  had  the  oversight  of 
the  greatest  and  most  considerable  parish  in 
the  country.  The  greatest  part  of  the  parish 
were  poor  tenants  and  labouring  husband- 
men; "but,"  as  he  used  to  say,  " the  souls 
of  such  are  as  precious  as  the  souls  of  the 
rich,  and  to  be  looked  after  accordingly." 
His  labours  to  win  souls  were  most  abun- 
dant. Besides  preaching,  he  expounded  the 
Scriptures  in  order,  catechized,  and  explained 
the  catechism.  He  took  some  adults  at  first 
into  the  list  of  catechumens,  and  when  he  had 
taken  what  pains  he  thought  needful  with 
them,  he  dismissed  them  from  further  atten- 
dance, with  commendation  of  their  proficien- 
cy, and  counsel  to  hold  fast  the  form  of  sound 
words;  to  be  watchful  against  the  sins  of 
their  age,  and  to  prepare  themselves  for  the 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper;  and,  after- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


51 


wards,  he  catechized  none  above  seventeen 
or  eighteen  years  of  age. 

He  set  up  a  monthly  lecture  there,  of  two 
sermons,  one  of  which  he  preached  himseh'", 
and  the  other,  Mr.  Ambrose  Lewis  of  Wrex- 
ham, for  some  years.  He  also  instituted  and 
kept  up  a  monthly  conference  from  house  to 
house,  in  which  he  met  with  the  more  intel- 
hgent  and  judicious  of  the  parish.  Here  he 
discoursed  freely  with  his  people,  respecting 
the  things  of  God ;  which  was  found  to  contri- 
bute to  their  mutual  edification.  One  object 
which  he  had  in  view  was,  to  become  better 
acquainted  with  his  parishioners,  so  that  he 
might  know  better  how  to  preach  to  them, 
and  pray  for  them,  and  that  they  might  be 
made  able  and  willing  to  pray  for  one  an- 
other. It  was  also  a  means  of  increasing 
knowledge,  love,  and  other  graces. 

He  was  very  industrious  in  visiting  the 
sick;  instructing  them  and  praying  with  them, 
and  in  this  he  would  say,  that  he  aimed  not 
only  at  the  good  of  the  sick,  but  also  of  their 
friends  and  relations  that  were  aboat  them. 
He  preached  funeral  sermons  for  all  that 
were  buried  there,  rich  or  poor,  old  or  young; 
and  even  for  little  children;  for  he  looked 


52 


LIFE  OF  THE 


upon  it,  as  an  opportunity  of  doing  good.  He 
called  it  the  setting  in  the  plough  of  the 
word,  when  Providence  had  softened  and 
prepared  the  ground.  He  never  would  ac- 
cept money  for  that  or  any  other  ministerial 
performance  besides  his  stated  salary;  for 
which  he  felt  himself  obliged  to  do  his  duty 
to  them,  as  a  minister. 

When  he  first  administered  the  Lord's 
supper,  he  conversed  freely  with  all  who 
proposed  to  commune,  and  explained  to  them 
the  nature  of  the  ordinance,  and  the  qualifi- 
cations required  of  communicants:  and  gave 
notice  to  the  congregation,  who  they  were 
that  were  admitted.  To  which  he  added  the 
following:  Concerning  these  and  myself,  I 
have  two  things  to  say,  1.  As  to  what  is  past, 
we  have  sinned.  If  we  should  say  we  have 
not,  we  deceive  ourselves,  and  the  truth  is 
not  in  us,  and  yet  withal  we  can  say,  and 
some  of  us  have  said,  with  tears,  we  are 
grieved  that  we  have  sinned. 

2.  "  We  are  resolved,  for  time  to  come,  by 
God's  grace,  to  walk  in  new  obedience;  and 
yet,  seeing  we  are  not  angels,  but  men  and 
women,  compassed  about  with  infirmities 
and  temptations,  it  is  possible  we  may  fall ; 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


53 


but  if  we  do,  it  is  our  declared  resolution  to 
submit  to  admonition  and  censure,  according 
to  the  rule  of  the  gospel." 

And,  all  along  he  took  pains  that  while  the 
weak  believer  should  not  be  discouraged, 
the  ordinance  might  not  be  profaned.  He 
would  tell  those  that  he  was  necessit^.ted  to 
debar  from  the  ordinance,  on  account  of  ig- 
norance, that  if  they  were  truly  willing,  they 
might  in  a  week's  time,  by  the  blessing  of 
God  upon  a  diligent  use  of  means,  reading, 
prayer,  and  conference,  get  such  a  competent 
measure  of  knowledge,  as  to  be  able  to  dis- 
cern the  Lord's  body;  and  to  those  whose 
lives  had  been  scandalous,  that  if  they  would 
come  in  and  declare  their  repentance  and  re- 
solutions of  new  obedience,  they  should  no 
longer  be  excluded. 

It  will  furnish  the  best  idea  of  the  solem- 
nity and  tenderness  of  his  manner  in  admin- 
istering this  ordinance,  to  transcribe  his  ex- 
hortation to  the  communicants  at  his  first 
administration,  November  27th,  1659. 

"  Dearly  beloved,  in  our  Lord  and  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ,  we  are  met  together,  this  day, 
about  the  most  solemn,  weighty  service  under 
heaven.    We  are  come  to  a  feast,  where  the 


54 


LIFE  OF  THE 


feast-maker  is  God  the  Father,  the  provision 
God  the  Son,  whose  flesh  is  meat  indeed, 
and  whose  blood  is  drink  indeed.  The  guests, 
a  company  of  poor  sinners,  unworthy  such 
an  honour.    The  orumbs  under  the  table  are 
too  good  for  us;  and  yet  we  are  permitted  to 
taste  of  the  provision  on  the  table  ;  and  that 
which  makes  the  feast  is  hearty  welcome. 
God  the  Father  bids  you  welcome,  and  ten 
thousand  welcomes,  this  day,  to  the  flesh  and 
blood  of  his  Son.    Think  you  hear  him  say- 
ilig  to  you,  0  believing  soul,  'Eat,  0  friends, 
drink,  yea  drink  abundantly,  0  beloved.' 
The  end  of  this  feast  is  to  keep  in  remem- 
brance, the  death  of  Christ,  and  our  deliver- 
ance by  it,  and  thereby  to  convey  spiritual 
nourishment  and  refreshment  to  our  souls. 
But  withal,  give  me  leave  to  ask  you  one 
question, '  What  appetite  have  you  to  this 
feast  ?    Are  you  come  hungering  and  thirst- 
ing?'   Such  have  the  promise  they  shall  be 
filled.     He  filleth  the  hungry  with  good 
things,  and  the  rich  are  sent  empty  away. 
A  honey  comb  to  a  full  soul  is  no  honey 
comb.    Canst  thou  say  as  Christ  said, '  with 
desire  I  have  desired  to  eat  this  passover?' 
In  this  ordinance  here  is  Christ  and  all  his 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


55 


\  benefits  exhibited  to  you.  Are  you  weak? 
here  is  bread  to  strengthen  thee.  Art  thou 
sad?  here  is  wine  to  comfort  thee.  What  is 
It  thou  standest  in  need  of.-  A  pardon  ?  here 
it  is,  sealed  in  blood — take  it  by  faith  as  I 
offer  it  to  you  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus. 
Though  thy  sins  have  been  as  scarlet,  they 
shall  be  as  wool,  if  thou  be  willing  and  obe- 
dient. It  may  be  here  are  some  that  have 
been  drunkards,  swearers,  scoffers  at  godli- 
ness, Sabbath  breakers,  and  what  not  ?  And 
God  hath  put  it  into  your  hearts  to  humble 

-ourselves,  to  mourn  for  and  turn  from  all 
/our  abominations.  0  come  hither,  here  is 
forgiveness  for  you.  What  else  is  it  thou 
wantest  ?  0,  saith  the  poor  soul,  I  would 
have  plenty  of  grace,  more  power  against 

n,  especially  my  own  iniquity.  Why  here 
It  is  for  thee;  from  the  fulness  that  is  in  Je- 
sus Christ  we  receive,  and  grace  for  grace. 
We  may  say  as  David  did  •  God  hath  spoken 
in  his  holiness,  and  then  Gilead  is  mine  and 

Manasseh  mine;  so  God  hath  spoken  in  his 

•  ord  sealed  in  the  sacrament,  and  then 
Christ  is  mine,  pardon  is  mine,  grace  is  mine, 

omfort  mine,  glory  mine.    Here  I  have  his 


56 


LIFE  OF  THE 


bond  to  show  for  it.    This  is  to  him  among 
you  that  hath  engaged  his  heart  to  approach 
unto  God  this  day.  But  if  there  be  any  come 
hither  with  a  false,  filthy,  unbelieving,  and 
hard  heart,  I  do  warn  you  seriously,  and 
with  authority,  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
presume  not  to  come  any  nearer  to  this  sa- 
cred ordinance.    You  that  live  in  the  prac- 
tice of  any  sin,  or  the  omission  of  any  duty 
against  your  knowledge  and  conscience ;  you 
that  have  any  malice  or  grudge  to  any  of 
your  neighbours — leave  your  gift  and  go 
your  ways — be  reconciled  to  your  brother, 
and  then  come.    Better  shame  thyself  for 
coming  so  near,  than  damn  thyself  by  com- 
ing nearer.    I  testify  to  those  who  say  they 
shall  have  peace,  though  they  go  on  still  in 
their  trespasses,  that  there  is  poison  in  the 
bread.  Take  it,  and  eat  it  at  your  own  peril. 
There  is  poison  in  the  cup  too — you  drink 
your  own  damnation.    I  wash  my  hands 
from  the  guilt  of  your  blood — look  you  to  it. 
On  the  other  hand,  you  poor  penitent  souls 
that  are  lost  in  yourselves,  here  is  a  Christ 
to  save  you.    Come,  0  come,  ye  that  are 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  &.c.'' 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


57 


The  following  hints,  taken  from  his  papers, 
will  show  also  his  method  of  administering 
the  ordinance  of  baptism. 

"  It  is  a  real  manifestation  of  the  goodness 
and  love  of  God  to  believers,  that  he  hath 
not  only  taken  them  into  covenant  with  him- 
self, but  their  seed  also;  saying,*!  will  be 
thy  God  and  the  God  of  thy  seed.'  Though 
to  be  born  of  such  doth  not  necessarily  entitle 
infants  to  the  spiritual  mercies  of  the  cove- 
nant; for  grace  doth  not  run  in  the  blood. 
We  see  the  contrary,  many  times;  even 
godly  parents  have  wicked  children.  Abra- 
ham had  his  Ishmael  and  Isaac  his  Esau; 
yet  it  doth  doubtless,  entitle  them  to  the  ex- 
ternal privileges  of  the  covenant.  The  like 
figure  unto  Noah's  ark,  even  doth  baptism 
also  now  save  us.  Noah  and  all  that  were  his, 
entered  into  the  ark,  though  we  have  cause 
to  doubt,  whether  they  all  entered  into  hea- 
ven. While  our  Lord  Jesus  was  here  upon 
earth,  they  brought  little  children  to  him, 
and  he  laid  his  hands  on  them  and  blessed 
them;  and  said,  *  Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'  Whether 
6 


58 


LIFE  OF  THE 


it  be  meant  of  the  visible  church,  often  so 
called  in  the  gospel,  or  of  the  state  of  glory 
in  another  world,  either  way  it  affords  an 
argument  for  proof  of  infant  baptism.  When 
either  parent  is  in  covenant  with  God,  the 
children  also  are  in  covenant  with  him,  they 
have  an  undoubted  right  and  title  to  this 
ordinance  of  baptism,  which  is  the  seal  of 
the  covenant.  So  that  in  the  administration 
of  this  ordinance,  this  day,  according  to  the 
institution  of  Jesus  Christ,  we  look  upon  you, 
the  father  of  this  child,  as  a  person  in  cove- 
nant with  God.  Therefore  if  you  have  dealt 
unfaithfully  in  the  covenant,  it  is  known  to 
God,  and  your  own  conscience;  but  this  we 
know,  the  vows  of  God  are  upon  you,  and, 
Met  every  one  that  nameth  the  name  of 
Christ,  depart  from  iniquity.'  But  before  I 
baptize  your  child,  I  am  to  acquaint  you, 
in  few  words,  what  we  require  of  you. 

Quest.  Do  you  avouch  God,  in  Jesus 
Christ,  this  day,  to  be  your  God  ? — See  to  it, 
that  this  be  done,  in  truth,  and  with  a  per- 
fect heart.  You  may  tell  us  you  do  so,  and 
you  may  deceive  us,  but  God  is  not  mocked. 
"  Quest.  2.   And  is  it  your  desire,  that 


REV.  PHILIP  HEXRY. 


59 


your  children  also  maybe  received  into  cove- 
nant with  the  Lord,  and  that  the  Lord's 
broad  seal  of  baptism,  may  be  set  to  it? 

Quest.  3.  And  do  you  promise,  in  the 
presence  of  God,  and  of  this  congregation, 
that  you  will  do  your  endeavours  towards 
training  it  up  in  the  way  of  godliness,  that 
as  it  is  by  you,  through  mercy,  that  it  lives 
the  life  of  nature,  so  it  may  be  by  you  also, 
through  the  same  mercy,  that  it  lives  the  life 
of  grace:  else,  I  must  tell  you,  if  you  be  want- 
ing herein,  there  will  be  a  sad  appearance, 
one  day,  when  you  shall  meet  together,  be- 
fore the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and  the  so- 
lemn engagement  of  yours  will  be  brought 
to  witness  against  you.*' 

He  declined  the  private  administration  of 
the  Lord's  supper  to  sick  persons,  as  judging 
it  not  consonant  to  the  rule  and  intention  of 
the  ordinance.  He  very  rarely,  if  ever,  bap- 
tized in  private:  but  would  have  children 
brought  to  the  solemn  assembly  on  the 
Lord's  day,  that  the  parents'  engagement 
might  have  the  more  witnesses  to  it,  and  the 
child  the  more  prayers  put  up  for  it;  and 
that  the  congregation  might  be  edified. 

His  behaviour  towards  the  people  of  his 

I 


60 


LIFE  OF  THE 


parish  was  very  exemplary,  condescending 
to  the  nneanest,  and  conversing  famiUarly 
with  thenri;  bearing  with  the  infirmities  of 
the  weak,  and  becoming  "  all  things  to  all 
men.'^  He  was  exceedingly  tender  of  giving 
offence,  or  occasion  of  grief  to  any  body, 
[  remembering  that  the  wisdom  that  is  from 
above  is,  ^'  pure,  peaceable,  and  gentle." 
Yet  he  plainly  and  faithfully  reproved  what 
he  saw  amiss  in  any,  and  would  not  suffer 
sin  upon  them;  mourning  also  for  that  which 
he  could  not  mend. 

Many  out  of  the  neighbouring  parishes 
attended  his  ministry,  and  some  came  from 
far,  though  sometimes  he  signified  his  dis- 
like of  it;  so  far  was  he  from  glorying  in  it. 
But  they  who  had  spiritual  senses  exercised 
to  discern  things  that  differ,  would  attend  on 
that  ministry  which  they  found  most  edify- 
ing. 

His  continuance  at  Worthenbury,  was 
about  eight  years,  and  his  labour  was  not  in 
vain  in  the  Lord.  He  remarked,  however, 
the  providence,  that  most  of  those  who  had 
been  savingly  benefitted  by  his  ministry, 
were  taken  out  of  the  world,  before  he  was 
removed  from  the  place;  and  the  new  gene- 


EIF.  PHILIP  HEyRT. 


61 


ration  who  succeeded  them  were  of  another 
spirit,  and  knew  not  Joseph. 

From  the  experience  which  he  had  at 
Worthenbury,  he  was  convinced  of  the  supe- 
rior opportunities  of  usefulness,  from  having 
his  people  settled  contiguously  around  him, 
in  the  parish  order,  rather  than  the  congre- 
gational way  of  gathering  churches  from 
places,  far  distant. 

Though  his  extraordinary  modesty  always 
led  him  to  take  the  lowest  room,  and  to 
avoid  pushing  himself  forward  into  conspi- 
cuous services;  yet  his  eminent  talents  could 
not  be  hid;  the  ointment  of  the  right  hand 
will  betray  itself  He  was  often  called  upon 
by  the  ministers,  in  the  vicinity,  to  preach 
the  week-day  lectures,  which  were  set  up 
plentifully,  and  were  well  attended  upon  in 
those  parts;  and  his  labours  were,  on  these 
occasions,  generally  acceptable  and  success- 
ful. Indeed,  the  estimation  in  which  he  was 
held  by  the  people,  was  manifest  from  their 
speaking  of  him  commonly  as,  the  heavenly 
Henry."  A  person  intimately  acquainted 
with  him  has  characterized  him  by  the  three 
following  particulars.  1.  Great  piety  and 
devotion,  and  a  mighty  savour  of  godliness 


62 


LIFE  OP  THE 


in  all  his  conversation.  2.  Great  industry  in 
the  pursuit  of  useful  knowledge:  he  was  par- 
ticularly observed  to  be  inquisitive,  when  in 
company  with  the  aged  and  intelhgent; 
hearing  them,  and  asking  them  questions — 
a  good  example  to  young  men,  especially 
young  ministers.  3.  Great  self-denial,  self- 
diffidence,  and  self-abasement.  This  emi- 
nent quality  put  a  lustre  upon  all  his  other 
graces. 

He  was  wont  to  tell  a  story  of  a  forward 
young  man,  who  at  a  meeting  of  ministers, 
with  much  self-confidence  said,  when  some 
point  was  under  debate,  "  I  ho/d  it  so  and 
so'' — a  grave  and  aged  minister  repressed 
his  forwardness  by  saying,  "  It  becomes  you 
to  hold  your  peace." 

He  was  not  only  a  preacher  of  lectures, 
but  a  frequent  hearer  of  the  lectures  of 
others;  and  he  made  it  a  practice  to  write 
down  the  discourses  which  he  heard,  and  in 
his  diary  to  record  the  effect  which  they  pro- 
duced on  his  heart. 

The  brother  in  whom  he  most  delighted, 
and  with  whom  he  often  took  sweet  counsel, 
was  Mr.  Richard  Steel,  minister  of  Flanmers, 
a  parish  adjacent  to  Worthenbury,  whose 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


63 


praise  is  in  the  churches,  for  his  excellent 
treatises,  "The  Husbandman's  CalUng" — 
"  An  Antidote  against  Distractions" — and 
several  others.  He  was  Mr.  Henry's  other- 
self^  the  man  of  his  counsel,  and  with  whom 
he  was  frequently  joined  in  conference,  and 
in  the  observance  of  days  of  humiliation  and 
prayer. 

It  was  customary  for  the  ministers  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  after  the  pubUc  exercises 
of  the  lecture  were  over,  to  spend  some  time 
in  set  disputations,  in  Latin.  As  iron  sharp- 
ens iron,  so  these  ministers  made  it  their 
business  to  provoke  one  another  to  love  and 
good  works. 

In  the  early  part  of  his  ministry,  Mr. 
Henry's  health  was  so  feeble,  that  it  Avas 
feared  that  he  would  go  into  a  decline,  and 
some  blamed  him  for  taking  so  much  pains 
in  his  ministerial  work;  suggesting  to  him, 
"  Master  spare  thyself"  One  of  them  told 
him,  that  he  lighted  up  his  whole  pound  of 
candles  at  once,  and  that  he  could  not  hold 
out  long,  at  that  rate,  and  wished  him  to 
husband  his  strength  better.  But  he  often 
reflected  upon  it  with  comfort,  afterwards, 
that  he  was  not  influenced  by  such  sugges- 


64 


LIFE  OF  THE 


tions.  He  would  sometimes  say,  "  the  more 
we  do  in  the  service  of  God,  the  more  we 
may  do."  When  his  work  bore  more  than 
usually  hard  upon  him,  instead  of  complain- 
ing, he  would  say,  "  Thou  knowest.  Lord, 
how  well  contented  I  am  *  to  spend  and  be 
spent,'  in  thy  service;  and  if  the  outward 
man  decay,  0  let  the  inward  man  be  renew- 
ed." When  his  bodily  indisposition  in- 
creased, his  greatest  solicitude,  was,  to  make 
a  proper  improvement  of  the  dispensation; 
for  he  said,  "  it  is  a  great  loss  to  lose  an  af- 
fliction." And  he  considered  every  return 
of  disease,  as  a  summons  to  the  grave.  "  I 
find,"  said  he,  "  my  earthly  tabernacle  tot- 
tering, and  when  it  is  taken  down,  I  shall 
have  a  building  in  heaven,  that  shall  never 
fail.  Blessed  be  God  the  Father,  and  my 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  good  Spirit  of 
grace."  Amen. 

While  he  resided  at  Worthenbury,  he  con- 
stantly laid  up  one  tenth  of  his  means  for  the 
poor,  which  he  carefully  and  faithfully  dis- 
posed of  in  the  liberal  things  which  he  de- 
vised; especially,  in  the  teaching  of  poor 
children.  And  he  recommended  it  as  a  good 
rule,  to  lay  by  for  charity,  in  some  propor- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


65 


tion  as  our  circumstances  are,  and  then  it 
will  be  the  easier  to  lay  out  in  charity.  We 
shall  be  more  likely  to  seek  for  opportunities 
of  doing  good,  when  we  have  money  lying 
by  us,  for  which  we  have  said,  "  This  is  not 
our  own,  but  the  poor's."  To  encourage 
himself  and  others  to  works  of  charity,  he 
would  say,  "  He  is  no  fool,  who  parts  with 
that  which  he  cannot  keep,  when  he  is  sure 
to  be  recompensed  by  that  which  he  cannot 
lose."  But  to  exclude  all  boasting,  he  would 
often  use  the  words  of  David,  "  Of  thine 
own  hand,  have  we  given  thee." 
'  In  the  year  1658,  the  ministers  in  Mr. 
Henry's  vicinity  began  to  enlarge  their  cor- 
respondence with  those  of  North  Wales. 
Several  meetings  were  held  for  the  promo- 
tion of  unity,  love,  and  good  understanding 
among  themselves,  by  entering  into  an  asso- 
ciation, similar  to  what  had  some  years  be- 
fore existed  in  Cumberland  and  Worcester. 
And  though  they  differed  considerably  re- 
specting matters  of  church  government,  some 
being  Episcopal,  some  Presbyterian,  and 
some  Congregational  in  their  views;  yet  they 
agreed  to  lay  aside  the  thoughts  of  matters 
in  variance,  and  to  give  each  other  the  right 


66 


LIFE  OF  THE 


hand  of  fellowship ;  that  with  one  shoulder 
and  one  consent,  they  might  study  in  their 
respective  places,  to  promote  the  common 
interests  of  Christ's  kingdom,  and  the  com- 
mon salvation  of  precious  souls. 

He  remarked  that  the  year  after  the  death 
of  Oliver  Cromwell,  there  was  generally  a 
great  change  throughout  the  nation,  in  the 
temper  of  God's  people,  and  a  mighty  ten- 
dency towards  peace  and  unity;  as  if  by 
consent,  they  were  weary  of  their  long  clash- 
ings.  With  this  prospect,  he  was  much  de- 
lighted, and  entertained  the  pleasing  hopes, 
that  the  time  was  at  hand,  "when  Judah 
should  no  longer  vex  Ephraim,  nor  Ephraim 
envy  Judah ;  neither  should  they  learn  war 
any  more."  And  although  the  bright  pros- 
pect was  soon  obscured ;  yet  he  often  spoke 
of  the  experience  of  that  and  the  following 
year,  as  a  specimen  of  what  may  yet  be  ex- 
pected, when  the  Spirit  shall  be  poured  out 
upon  us  from  on  high.  From  this  experience 
also,  he  gathered  this  observation:  "That  it 
is  not  so  much  our  difference  of  opinion  that 
doth  the  mischief — for  we  may  as  soon  ex- 
pect all  the  clocks  in  the  town  to  strike  to- 
gether, as  to  see  all  good  people  of  a  mind  in 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


67 


every  thing,  on  this  side  heaven — but  the 
mismanagement  of  that  difference.'^ 

In  the  association  of  ministers,  now  form- 
ed, he  was  appointed  to  draw  up  that  part  of 
their  agreement  which  related  to  the  worship 
of  Gcd,  which  task  he  performed  to  their  satis- 
faction. In  his  introduction  to  this  paper,  he 
says, "  Though  the  main  of  our  desires  and  en- 
deavours be  after  unity,  in  the  greater  things 
of  God;  yet  we  judge  uniformity  in  the  cir- 
cumstances of  worship,  a  thing  not  to  be  alto- 
gether neglected  by  us:  not  only  in  respect  to 
that  influence,  which  external,  visible  order 
hath  upon  the  beauty  and  comeliness  of  the 
churches  of  Christ,  but  also  as  it  hath  a  direct 
tendency  to  the  strengthening  of  our  hands 
in  ministerial  services,  and  withal  to  the  re- 
moving of  those  prejudices  which  many  peo- 
have  conceiyed  even  against  religion  and 
worship  itself.  We  bless  God  from  our  very 
souls,  for  that  whereunto  we  have  already 
attained;  and  yet  we  hope  something  further 
may  be  done,  in  reference  to  our  walking 
more  closely  by  the  same  rule,  and  minding 
the  same  things.  The  word  of  God  is  the 
rule  which  we  desire  and  resolve  to  walk  by 
in  the  administration  of  ordinances;  and  for 


€8 


LIFE  OP  THE 


those  things  wherein  the  word  is  silent,  we 
think  we  may  and  ought  to  have  recourse  to 
Christian  prudence,  and  the  practice  of  the 
reformed  churches,  agreeing  with  the  gene- 
ral rules  of  the  word;  and  therefore  we  have 
had — as  we  think  we  ought — a  special  eye 
to  the  DIRECTORY,  in  our  present  agreement/* 

There  was  the  more  reason  to  hope  for 
good  fruit  from  these  associations,  because 
they  were  set  up  with  prayer  and  days  of 
fasting  and  humiliation,  to  implore  the  Divine 
blessing,  to  seek  God  for  direction  in  their 
ministerial  w^ork,  and  to  bewail  their  minis- 
terial failings, 

September  29,  1658,  the  lady  Puleston 
died.  "  She  was,"  says  he,  "  the  best  friend 
I  ever  had  upon  earth,  but  my  best  friend  in 
heaven,  is  still  where  he  was,  and  he  will 
never  leave  me  nor  forsake  me."  He  preach- 
ed her  funeral  sermon,  from  Isa.  iii.  "  Cease 
from  man  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils." 
Among  her  last  words  he  mentions  these, 
"  My  soul  leans  to  Jesus  Christ,  lean  to  me, 
sweet  Saviour." 

After  a  year.  Judge  Puleston  died,  and  all 
Mr.  Henry's  interest  in  the  Emeral  family 
was  buried  in  the  grave.    He  preached  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


69 


Judge's  funeral  sermon  from  Nehemiah  xiii. 
4.  "  Wipe  not  out  the  good  deeds  that  I  have 
done  for  the  house  of  my  God,  and  the  offices 
thereof"  This  sermon  was  not  intended  as 
a  eulogy  on  the  Judge,  there  is  not  a  word 
in  the  sermon  to  that  purpose;  but  the  object 
was  to  show,  that  deeds  done  for  the  house 
of  God,  are  good  deeds  and  to  press  upon 
the  people  according  to  their  opportunity,  to 
do  such  deeds.  There  is  one  fact  mentioned 
in  that  discourse,  which  deserves  to  be  pre- 
served. That  it  had  been  for  several  years 
the  practice  of  a  worthy  gentleman,  in  a 
neighbouring  county,  in  renewing  his  leases, 
instead  of  making  it  a  condition  that  his 
tenants  should  keep  a  hawk  or  a  dog  for  him, 
to  require  them  to  keep  a  Bible  in  their 
houses,  and  to  bring  up  their  children  to 
learn  to  read,  and  be  catechized. 

The  personal  affronts  which  he  received 
from  some  members  of  that  family,  at  that 
time  need  not  be  mentioned ;  but  with  what 
exemplary  meekness  he  bore  them,  ought 
not  to  be  forgotten. 

He  was  very  much  solicited  in  1659,  to 
leave  Worthenbury  and  accept  the  vicarage 
of  Wrexham,  a  place  where  the  people  were 


70 


LIFE  OF  THE 


greatly  attached  to  him,  and  for  whom  he 
felt  a  special  kindness;  but  he  could  not  see 
his  way  clear  to  leave  Worthenbury;  and  so 
he  declined  the  invitation. 

As  to  his  method  of  preaching,  it  was  not 
his  practice  to  dwell  long  on  a  single  text;  a 
thing  common  in  his  tim.e  and  before.  "  Bet- 
ter,-'said  he,  one  sermon  on  many  texts, 
than  many  sermons  on  one  text.'^  He  used 
to  preach  systematically,  that  is,  he  pursued 
a  regular  method,  and  linked  his  subjects  in 
a  sort  of  chain.  He  adapted  his  method  and 
style  to  the  capacity  of  his  hearers,  fetching 
his  similitudes  or  illustrations,  from  those 
things  which  were  familiar  to  them.  He  did 
not  shoot  the  arrow  of  the  word  over  their 
heads,  in  hi^h  notions,  or  the  flourishes  of 
affected  rhetoric;  nor  under  their  feet,  by 
blunt  and  homely  expressions,  as  many  do, 
under  pretence  of  plainness,  but  to  their 
hearts,  in  close  and  lively  applications.  His 
delivery  was  very  graceful  and  agreeable, 
far  from  being  noisy  and  precipitate,  on  the 
one  hand,  or  dull  and  slow  on  the  other.  His 
doctrine  did  drop  as  the  dew  and  distill  as 
the  rain,  and  came  with  a  charming  pleasing 
power,  such  as  many  bore  witness  to,  who 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


71 


wondered  at  the  gracious  words  which  pro- 
ceeded out  of  his  mouth.  He  wrote  the 
notes  of  his  sermons  pretty  large,  for  the  most 
part,  and  always  very  legible ;  but  even  when 
he  had  put  his  last  hand  to  them,  he  left 
many  imperfect  hints,  which  gave  room  for 
enlargement  in  preaching,  in  which  he  had 
great  felicity.  And  he  would  often  advise 
ministers,  not  to  confine  themselves  too  close- 
ly to  their  notes,  but  having  Avell  digested 
the  matter  before,  to  allow  themselves  a  lib- 
erty of  expression,  such  as  a  man's  feelings, 
if  they  be  excited,  will  be  apt  to  furnish  him 
with.  But  for  this  no  certain  rule  can  be 
given,  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  and  each 
to  profit  withal. 

He  kept  his  sermon  notes  in  very  neat  and 
exact  order;  so  that  he  could  readily  turn  to 
any  of  them;  yet  he  seldom  preached  again 
any  of  his  old  sermons,  but  to  the  last  studied 
new  sermons,  and  wrote  them  as  elaborately 
as  ever,  for  he  thought  a  sermon  best  preach- 
ed, when  it  was  newly  meditated.  Even 
when  he  preached  again  on  the  same  text,  he 
was  accustomed  to  write  a  new  sermon.  He  ^ 
never  offered  to  God  that  which  cost  him  ' 
nothing. 


72 


LIFE  OF  THE 


When  he  went  to  Oxford,  and  preached 
before  the  university  in  Christ's-church,  as 
he  did  several  times,  his  labours  were  not 
only  very  acceptable,  but  successful,  too; 
particularly,  a  sermon  on  Proverbs  xiv.  9. 
"  Fools  make  a  mock  at  sin,"  which  made 
such  an  impression  on  a  young  master  of 
arts,  that  he  afterwards  came  to  his  chamber 
to  return  him  his  thanks,  for  the  good  re- 
ceived from  his  preaching. 

In  his  diary,  daring  this  period,  he  notes 
carefully  the  frame  of  his  mind  while  com- 
posing as  well  as  preaching  his  sermons. 
And  he  appears  to  have  had,  at  times,  not 
only  humbling  views  of  his  own  imperfec- 
tions, but  some  doubts  respecting  the  good- 
ness of  his  state.  In  one  entry,  he  says,  "  I 
think,  never  did  any  poor  creature  pass 
through  such  a  mixture  of  hope  and  fear, 
joy  and  sadness,  assurance  and  doubting — 
down  and  up,  as  I  have,  these  years  past." 
It  may  be  encouraging  to  drooping  Chris- 
tians to  hear  from  such  an  eminent  saint, 
such  complaints  as  the  following:  "No  life 
at  all  in  the  duty — many  wanderings.  If 
my  prayers  were  written  down  and  my 
vain  thoughts  interlined,  what  incoherent 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


73 


nonsense  would  there  be!  I  am  ashamed, 
Lord,  I  am  ashamed,  0  pity  and  pardon  me." 
"When  a  fire  is  first  kindled/'  saith  he, 
"there  is  a  deal  of  smoke  and  smother,  that 
afterwards  wears  away;  so  in  young  con- 
verts, much  peevishness,  forwardness,  and 
darkness;  so  it  hath  been  with  my  soul,  and 
so  it  is  yet  in  a  great  measure.  Lord,  pity, 
and  do  not  quench  the  smoking  flax  ;  though 
as  yet  it  do  but  smoke,  let  these  sparks  be 
blown  up  into  a  flame."  And  though  few  ex- 
celled him  in  profitable  conversation;  yet  he 
often  bewails  his  barrenness,  and  unprofita- 
bleness. "  Little  good  done,  or  gotten,  such 
a  day,  for  want  of  a  heart.  'Tis  my  sin  and 
shame.  0  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove." 
Yet  he  often  expresses  in  his  diary,  a  firm 
reliance  on  God.  "Such  a  day,"  saith  he,  a 
full  resignation  was  made  of  all  my  concern- 
ments, into  the  hands  of  my  heavenly  Fa- 
ther, let  him  deal  with  me  as  seemeth  good 
in  his  eyes.  I  am  learning  and  labouring  to 
live  by  faith.  Lord,  help  my  unbelief."  At 
a  time  when  perplexed  and  almost  over- 
whelmed with  fears,  he  found  complete  de- 
liverance, by  the  suggestions  of  a  precious 
7 


74 


LIFE  OF  THE 


text  of  Scripture  Fear  none  of  those  things 
which  thoushalt  suffer." 

He  very  frequently  kept  days  of  fasting 
and  humiliation  in  secret,  which  he  calls  his 
days  of  atonement.  Sometimes  he  observed 
these  monthly,  and  sometimes  only  on  par- 
ticular occasions;  but  his  diary,  while  at 
Worthenbury,  shows  what  sweet  commu- 
nion he  had  with  God,  in  these  solemn  duties. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

His  Marriage — Family — Family  Religion,  and  the  Edu- 
cation of  his  Children. 

He  removed  from  Emeral  to  the  house  in 
Worthenbury  which  the  Judge  had  built  for 
him  in  February  1658-9,  and  then  had  one 
of  his  sisters  with  him  to  keep  his  house.  No 
sooner  had  he  a  tent,  but  God  had  an  altar 
in  it,  and  that  a  smoking  altar.  There  he 
set  up  repetition  on  Sabbath  evenings,  and 
welcomed  his  neighbours  to  it. 

His  Christian  friends  often,  and  sometimes 
his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  kept  days  of 
fasting  and  prayer  at  his  house.    He  used  to 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


75 


tell  people  when  they  had  built  new  houses, 
they  must  dedicate  them,  (referring  to  Deut. 
XX.  5,  and  Psal.  xxx.  ult.)  that  is,  they  must 
invite  God  to  their  houses,  and  devote  them 
to  his  service. 

Providence  having  thus  brought  him  into 
a  house  of  his  own,  soon  after  provided  him 
a  help-meet  for  him.  After  long  agitation, 
and  some  discouragement  and  opposition 
from  the  father,  April  26th,  1660,  he  married 
Katharine,  the  only  daughter  and  heir  of 
Mr.  Daniel  Matthews,  of  Broad  Oak,  in  the 
township  of  Iscoyd,  in  Flintshire,  (but  in  the 
parish  of  Malpas,  which  is  in  Cheshire,  and 
about  two  miles  distant  from  Whitchurch, 
a  considerable  market  town  in  Shropshire.) 
Mr.  Matthews  was  a  gentleman  of  a  very 
competent  estate;  such  a  one  as  king  James 
the  First  used  to  say  was  the  happiest  lot 
of  all  others,  which  set  a  man  below  the 
office  of  a  justice  of  peace,  and  above  that 
of  a  petty  constable.  This  was  his  only 
child:  very  fair  and  honourable  overtures 
had  been  made  for  her  disposal;  but  it  pleased 
God  so  to  order  eyents,  and  to  over-rule  the 
spirits  of  those  concerned,  that  she  was  re- 
served to  be  a  blessing  to  this  good  man, 


76 


LIFE  OF  THE 


in  things  pertaining  ^'both  to  life  and  godli- 
ness." 

His  purpose  of  marriage  was  published  in 
the  church  three  Lord's  days  before;  a  laud- 
able practice,  which  he  greatly  approved, 
and  persuaded  others  to. 

The  day  before  his  marriage,  he  kept  as  a 
day  of  secret  prayer  and  fasting. 

He  used  to  say,  those  who  would  have 
comfort  in  that  change  of  their  condition, 
must  see  to  it,  that  they  bring  none  of  the 
guilt  of  the  sin  of  their  single  state  with  them 
into  the  married  state.  And  the  presence 
•  of  Christ  at  a  "  wedding  will  turn  the  water 
into  wine;"  and  he  will  come,  if  he  be  in- 
vited by  prayer. 

He  took  all  occasions,  while  he  lived,  to 
express  his  thankfulness  to  God  for  the  great 
comfort  he  had  in  this  relation.  A  day  of 
mercy  (so  he  writes  on  his  marriage  day) 
never  to  be  forgotten.  God  had  given  him 
one  (as  he  writes  afterwards)  every  way  his 
helper,  in  whom  he  had  much  comfort,  and 
for  whom  he  thanked  God  with  all  his  heart. 
He  writes  in  his  diary,  April  26th,  1680, 
"This  day  we  have  been  married  twenty 
years,  in  which  time  we  have  received  of  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


77 


Lord  more  than  twenty  thousand  naercies;  to 
God  be  glory.*'  Sometimes  he  writes,  "  We 
have  been  so  long  married,  and  never  recon- 
ciled;" that  is,  there  never  was  any  occasion 
for  it.  His  usual  prayer  for  his  friends  in 
the  married  state  was  according  to  his  own 
practice  in  that  state;  that  they  might  be 
mutually  serviceable  to  each  other's  faith 
and  lioliness,  and  jointly  serviceable  to  God's 
honour  and  glory. 

Her  father,  though  he  put  some  hardships 
upon  him  in  the  terms,  and  had  been  some- 
what averse  to  the  match,  yet  by  Mr.  Hen- 
ry's great  prudence,  and  God's  good  provi- 
dence, he  was  influenced  to  give  a  free  con- 
sent to  it;  and  he  himself,  with  his  own  hand, 
gave  her  in  marriage.  From  this,  as  from 
other  experiences,  Mr.  Henry  had  learned  to 
say  with  assurance:  "It  is  not  in  vain  to 
wait  upon  God,  and  to  keep  his  way."  Mr. 
Matthews  settled  part  of  his  estate  before 
marriage  upon  them  and  theirs ;  he  lived 
about  seven  years  after;  and  when  he  died, 
the  remainder  of  it  came  to  them.  This 
competent  estate,  which  the  divine  provi- 
dence brought  into  his  hand,  was  not  only  a 
comtortable  support  to  him  when  he  was 


78 


LIFE  OP  THE 


turned  out  of  his  living,  and  when  many  faith- 
ful ministers  of  Christ  were  reduced  to  great 
poverty  and  straits;  but  it  enabled  him  like- 
wise, as  he  had  opportunity,  to  preach  the 
gospel  freely,  which  he  did  to  his  dying  day; 
and  not  only  vso,  but  to  give  for  the  relief  of 
others  that  were  in  want,  in  which  he  sowed 
plentifully,  to  a  very  large  proportion  of  his 
income;  and  often  blessed  God  that  he  had 
wherewithal,  remembering  the  words  of  the 
Lord,  how  he  said,  "  It  is  more  blessed  to 
give  than  to  receive." 

Such  was  his  house,  and  such  the  vine 
which  God  graciously  planted  by  the  side  of 
his  house.  By  her  God  gave  him  six  chil- 
dren, all  born  within  less  than  eight  years; 
the  two  eldest  sons,  John  and  Matthew:  the 
other  four,  daughters,  Sarah,  Katharine, Elea- 
nor, and  Ann.  His  eldest  son  John  died  of 
the  measles  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  age,  and 
the  rest  were  in  mercy  continued  to  him. 

The  Lord  having  built  him  up  into  a  fami- 
ly, he  was  careful  and  faithful  in  making 
good  his  solemn  vow  at  his  ordination,  that 
"  he  and  his  house  would  serve  the  Lord.'' 
He  would  often  say.  That  we  are  really 
which  we  are  relatively.    It  is  not  so  much 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


79 


what  we  are  at  church,  as  what  we  are  in 
our  families.  ReUgion  in  the  power  of  it 
will  be  family  religion.  In  this  his  practice 
was  very  exemplary;  he  was  one  that  walked 
before  his  house  in  a  perfect  way,  with  a  per- 
fect heart,  and  therein  behaved  himself  wise- 
ly. His  constant  care  and  prudent  endeavour 
was  not  only  to  put  away  iniquity  far  from 
his  tabernacle,  but  that  where  he  dwelt,  the 
word  of  Christ  might  dwell  richly.  If  he 
might  have  no  other  church,  yet  he  had  a 
church  in  his  house. 

He  made  conscience  of  closet- worship,  and 
did  abound  in  it,  not  making  his  family  wor- 
ship to  excuse  for  that.  He  hath  this  affect- 
ing note  in  his  diary,  upon  the  removing  of 
his  closet  but  from  one  room  in  the  house  to 
another:  this  day  (saith  he)  my  new  closet 
was  consecrated,  if  I  may  so  say,  with  this 
prayer,  "That  all  the  prayers  that  ever  should 
be  made  in  it,  according  to  the  will  of  God, 
morning,  evening,  and  at  noon-day,  ordinary 
or  extraordinary,  might  be  accepted  of  God, 
and  obtain  a  gracious  answer.  Amen  and 
amen."  It  was  the  caution  and  advice  which 
he  frequently  gave  to  his  children  and  friends, 
Be  sure  you  look  to  your  secret  duty,  keep 


80 


LIFE  OP  THE 


that  up  whatever  you  do;  the  soul  cannot 
prosper  iu  the  neglect  of  it.  He  observed, 
that  apostasy  generally  begins  at  the  closet 
door.  Secret  prayer  is  first  neglected,  and 
carelessly  performed,  then  frequently  omitted, 
and  after  a  while  wholly  cast  off;  and  then 
farewell  God,  and  Christ,  and  all  religion. 

He  also  advised  that  secret  duty  be  per- 
formed secretly,  which  was  the  admonition 
he  gave  sometimes  to  those  who  caused  their 
voice  to  be  heard  on  high  in  that  duty. 

Besides  this,  he  and  his  wife  constantly 
prayed  together  morning  and  evening;  and 
never  if  they  were  together  at  home  or 
abroad  was  it  intermitted;  and  from  his  own 
experience  of  the  benefit  of  this  practice,  he 
would  take  all  opportunities  to  recommend 
it  to  those  in  that  relation,  as  conducing  very 
much  to  the  comfort  of  it,  and  to  their  fur- 
therance in  that,  which  he  would  often  say 
is  the  great  duty  of  yoke-fellows;  and  that  is, 
to  do  all  they  can  to  help  one  another  to  hea- 
ven. He  would  say,  that  this  duty  of  hus- 
bands and  wives  praying  together,  is  inti- 
mated in  that  of  the  apostle,  1  Pet.  iii.  7. 
where  they  are  exhorted  to  "live  as  heirs  to- 
gether of  the  grace  of  life,  that  their  prayers. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


81 


(especially  their  prayers  together)  be  not 
hindered;"  and  that  nothing  may  be  done  to 
hinder  them  from  praying  together,  nor  to 
hinder  them  in  it,  nor  to  spoil  the  success  of 
those  prayers.  This  sanctifies  the  relation, 
and  fetcheth  in  a  blessing  upon  it,  makes  the 
comforts  of  it  the  more  sweet,  and  the  cares 
and  crosses  of  it  the  more  easy,  and  is  an  ex- 
cellent means  of  preserving  and  increasing 
love  in  the  relation.  Many  to  whom  he 
hath  recommended  the  practice  of  this  duty, 
have  blessed  God  for  him,  and  for  his  advice 
concerning  it.  When  he  was  abroad  and  lay 
with  any  of  his  friends  he  would  remind 
them  of  this  rule.  That  they  who  lie  together 
must  pray  together.  In  the  performance  of 
this  part  of  his  daily  worship  he  was  usually 
short,  but  often  much  affected. 

Besides  these  he  made  conscience,  and 
made  a  business  of  family  worship  in  all  the 
parts  of  it;  and  in  it  he  was  uniform,  steady, 
and  constant  from  the  time  that  he  was  first 
called  to  the  charge  of  a  family,  to  his  dying 
day;  and  according  to  his  own  practice,  he 
took  all  occasions  to  press  it  upon  others. 
His  doctrine  once  from  Josh.  xxiv.  15,  was, 

iThat  family  worship  is  family  duty.  He 


82 


LIFi:  OF  THE 


would  say  sometimes,  If  the  worship  of  God 
be  not  in  the  house,  write,  "  Lord  have  mercy 
on  us,"  upon  the  door;  for  there  is  a  plague, 
a  curse  in  it.  It  is  the  judgment  of  arch- 
bishop Tillotson,  in  that  excellent  book  which 
he  published  a  little  before  his  death  upon 
this  subject:  That  constant  family  worship 
is  so  necessary  to  keep  alive  a  sense  of  God 
and  religion  in  the  minds  of  men,  that  he 
sees  not  how  any  family  that  neglects  it  can 
in  reason  be  esteemed  a  family  of  Christians, 
or  indeed  to  have  any  religion  at  all.  How 
earnestly  would  JNIr.  Henry  reason  with  peo- 
ple sometimes  about  this  matter,  and  tell 
what  a  blessing  it  would  bring  upon  them 
and  their  houses,  and  all  that  they  had.  He 
that  mak-es  his  house  a  little  church  shall 
find,  that  God  will  make  it  a  little  sanctuary. 
It  may  be  of  use  to  give  a  particular  account 
of  his  practice  in  this  matter,  because  it  was 
very  exemplary.  As  to  the  time  of  it,  his 
rule  was,  commonly  the  earUer  the  better, 
both  morning  and  evening;  in  the  morning 
before  worldly  business  crowded  in,  early 
will  I  seek  thee:"  he  that  is  the  first  would 
have  the  first;  nor' is  it  fit  that  the  worship 
of  God  should  stand  by  and  wait  while  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


83 


world's  turn  is  served.  And  early  in  the 
evening,  before  the  children  and  servants  be- 
gan to  be  sleepy;  and  therefore,  if  it  might 
be,  he  would  have  prayer  at  night  before 
supper,  that  the  body  might  be  the  more  fit 
to  serve  the  soul  in  that  service  of  God.  And 
indeed  he  did  industriously  contrive  all  the 
circumstances  of  his  family  worship,  so  as  to 
make  it  most  solemn  and  most  likely  to  an- 
swer the  end.  He  always  made  it  the  busi- 
ness of  every  day,  and  not  (as  too  many 
make  it)  a  by-business.  This  being  his  fixed 
principle,  all  other  affairs  must  be  sure  to 
give  way  to  this.  And  he  would  tell  those 
who  objected  against  family  worship,  that 
they  could  not  get  time  for  it,  that  if  they 
would  put  on  Christian  resolution  at  first, 
they  would  not  find  the  difficulty  so  great  as 
they  imagined;  but  after  a  while, their  other 
affairs  would  fall  in  easily  and  naturally  with 
this,  especially  where  there  is  that  wisdom 
which  is  profitable  to  direct;  nay,  they  would 
find  it  to  be  a  great  preserver  of  order  and 
decency  in  a  family,  and  it  would  be  like  a 
hem  to  all  their  other  business,  to  keep  it 
from  ravelling.  He  was  ever  careful  to  have 
all  his  family  present  at  family  worship: 


84 


LIFE  OF  THE 


though  sometimes,  living  in  the  country,  he 
had  a  great  household;  yet  he  would  have 
not  only  his  children  and  sojourners  (if  he 
had  any)  and  domestic  servants,  but  his 
workmen  and  day-labourers,  and  all  that 
were  employed  for  him,  if  they  were  within 
call  to  be  present,  to  join  with  him  in  this  ser- 
vice; and  as  it  was  an  act  of  his  charity 
many  times  to  set  them  to  work  for  him, 
so  to  that  he  added  this  act  of  piety,  to  set 
them  to  work  for  God.  And  usually  when 
he  paid  his  workmen  their  wages,  he  gave 
them  some  good  counsel  about  their  souls: 
yet  if  any  that  should  come  to  family  wor- 
ship were  at  a  distance,  and  must  be  staid 
for  long,  he  would  rather  want  them  than 
put  the  duty  much  out  of  time;  and  would 
sometimes  say  at  night,  Better  one  away 
than  all  sleepy.'' 

The  performances  of  his  family  worship 
were  the  same  morning  and  evening.  He 
observed,  that  under  the  law,  the  morning 
and  the  evening  lamb  had  the  same  meat- 
offering and  drink-olfering,  Exod.  xxix.  38 — 
41.  He  always  begun  with  a  short,  but  very 
solemn  prayer,  imploring  the  Divine  pre- 
sence and  grace,  assistance  and  acceptance: 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


85 


particularly  begging  a  blessing  upon  the  word 
to  be  read,  in  reference  to  which  he  often 
put  up  this  petition:  "That  the  same  Spirit 
that  indited  the  Scripture,  would  enable  us  to 
understand  the  Scripture,  and  to  make  up 
something  to  ourselves  out  of  it  that  may  do 
us  good:"  and  esteeming  the  word  of  God 
as  his  necessary  food,  he  would  sometimes 
pray  in  a  morning,  that  "our  souls  might 
have  a  good  meal  out  of  it,"  he  commonly 
concluded  even  this  short  prayer,  as  he  did 
also  his  blessings  before  and  after  meat,  with 
a  doxology,  as  Paul  upon  all  occasions,  "To 
Him  be  glory,"  &:c.  which  is  properly  adora- 
tion, and  is  an  essential  part  of  prayer. 

He  next  sung  a  psalm,  and  commonly  he 
sung  David's  psalms  in  order,  throughout; 
sometimes  using  the  old  translation,  but  gene- 
rally Mr.  Barton's:  and  his  usual  way  was 
to  sing  a  whole  psalm  throughout,  though 
perhaps  a  long  one,  and  to  sing  quick;  (yet 
with  a  good  variety  of  proper  and  pleasant 
tunes)  and  that  he  might  do  so,  usually  the 
psalm  was  sung  without  reading  the  line  be- 
twixt (every  one  in  the  family  having  a 
book;)  which  he  preferred  much  before  the 
common  way  of  singing  where  it  might  con- 


86 


LIFE  OF  THE 


veniently  be  done,  as  more  agreeable  to  the 
practice  of  the  primitive  church,  and  the  re- 
formed churches  abroad;  and  by  this  means 
he  thought  the  duty  more  hkely  to  be  per- 
formed "  in  the  spirit,  and  with  the  under- 
standing;" the  sense  being  not  so  broken, 
nor  the  affections  interrupted,  as  in  reading 
the  Hne  betwixt.  He  would  say,  that  a 
Scripture  ground  for  singing  psahns  in  fami- 
lies might  be  taken  from  Psalm  cxviii.  15. 
"  The  voice  of  rejoicing  and  of  salvation,  is  in 
the  tabernacles  of  the  righteous;"  and  that 
it  is  a  way  to  hold  forth  godliness  (like  Ra- 
hab's  scarlet  thread,  Josh.  ii.  17,)  to  such  as 
pass  by  our  windows. 

He  next  read  a  portion  of  Scripture,  taking 
the  Bible  in  order;  he  would  sometimes 
blame  those  who  only  pray  in  their  families, 
and  do  not  read  the  Scripture;  in  prayer  we 
speak  to  God,  by  the  word  he  speaks  to  us; 
and  is  there  any  reason  (saith  he)  that  we 
should  speak  all?  in  the  tabernacle  the  priests 
were  every  day  to  burn  incense,  and  to  light 
the  lamps;  the  former  figuring  the  duty  of 
prayer,  the  latter  the  duty  of  reading  the 
word.  Sometimes  he  would  say,  Those  do 
well  that  pray  morning  and  evening  in  their 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


87 


families;  those  do  better,  that  pray  and  read 
the  Scriptures;  but  those  do  best  of  all  that 
pray,  and  read,  and  sing  psalms;  and  Chris- 
tians should  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts. 

He  advised  the  reading  of  the  Scripture  in 
order;  for  though  one  star  in  the  firmament 
of  the  Scripture  differ  from  another  star  in 
glory,  yet  wherever  God  hath  a  mouth  to 
speak,  we  should  have  an  ear  to  hear;  and 
the  diligent  searcher  may  find  much  excel- 
lent matter  in  those  parts  of  Scripture,  which 
we  are  sometimes  tempted  to  think  might 
have  been  spared.  How  aflfectionately  would 
he  sometimes  bless  God  for  every  book,  and 
chapter,  and  verse,  and  line,  in  the  Bible! 

What  he  read  in  his  family,  he  always  ex- 
pounded; and  exhorted  all  ministers  to  do  so, 
as  an  excellent  means  of  increasing  their  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Scripture.  His  exposi- 
tions were  not  so  much  critical  as  plain,  and 
practical,  and  useful;  and  such  as  tended  to 
edification,  and  to  answer  the  end  for  which 
the  Scriptures  were  written,  which  is  to  make 
us  wise  to  salvation.  And  herein  he  had  a 
peculiar  excellence,  performing  that  daily  ex- 
ercise with  so  much  judgment,  and  at  the  same 
time  with  such  facility  and  clearness,  as  if 


88 


LIFE  OF  THE 


every  exposition  had  been  premeditated;  and 
very  instructive  they  were,  as  well  as  affecting 
to  the  auditors.  His  observations  vv^eremany 
times  very  pretty  and  surprising,  and  such  as 
one  shall  not  ordinarily  meet  with.  Commonly 
in  his  expositions  he  reduced  the  matter  of 
the  chapter  or  psalm  read,  to  some  heads; 
not  by  a  logical  analysis,  which  often  minceth 
it  too  small  and  confounds  the  sense  with  the 
terms;  but  by  such  a  distribution  as  the  mat- 
ter did  most  easily  and  unforcedly  fall  into. 
He  often  mentioned  that  saying  of  Tertu- 
lian's,  "I  adore  the  fulness  of  the  Scriptures;" 
and  sometimes  that,  Scriptura  semper  habet 
aliqiiid  relegentibus.  When  sometimes  he 
had  hit  upon  some  useful  observation  that 
was  new  to  him,  he  would  say  afterwards  to 
those  about  him,  "How  often  have  I  read 
this  chapter,  and  never  before  now  took  no- 
tice of  such  a  thing  in  it!"  he  put  his  chil- 
dren, while  they  were  with  him,  to  write 
these  expositions;  and  when  they  were  gone 
from  him,  the  strangers  that  sojourned  with 
him  did  the  same.  What  collections  his  chil- 
dren had,  though  but  broken  and  very  im- 
perfect hints;  yet,  when  afterwards  they 
were  disposed  of  in  the  world,  were  of  good 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


89 


use  to  them  and  their  families.  Some  expo- 
sitions of  this  nature,  that  is,  plain  and  prac- 
tical, and  helping  to  raise  the  affections  and 
guide  the  conversation  by  the  word,  he  often 
wished  were  published  by  some  good  hand 
for  the  benefit  of  families:  but  such  was  his 
great  modesty  and  self  diffidence  (though 
few  more  able  for  it)  that  he  would  never  be 
persuaded  to  attempt  any  thing  of  that  kind 
himself  As  an  evidence  how  much  his  heart 
was  upon  it,  to  have  the  word  of  God  read 
and  understood  in  families,  take  this  passage 
out  of  his  last  will  and  testament:  "  I  give 
and  bequeath  to  each  of  my  four  daughters, 
^lv.  Pool's  English  annotations  upon  the 
Bible,  in  two  volumes,  of  the  last  and  best 
edition  that  shall  be  to  be  had  at  the  time  of 
my  decease,  together  with  Mr.  Barton's  last 
and  best  translation  of  the  singing  psalms, 
one  to  each  of  them;  requiring  and  request- 
ing them  to  make  daily  use  of  the  same,  for 
the  instruction,  edification,  and  comfort  of 
themselves  and  their  families."  But  'tis 
time  we  proceed  to  the  method  of  his  family 
worship. 

The  chapter  or  psalm  being  read  and  ex- 
pouudedj  he  required  from  his  children  some 


90 


LIFE  OF  THE 


account  of  what  they  could  remember  of  it; 
and  sometimes  would  discourse  v/ith  them 
plainly  and  familiarly  about  it,  that  he  might 
lead  them  into  an  acquaintance  with  it ;  and 
(if  it  might  be)  impress  something  of  it  upon 
their  hearts. 

He  then  prayed,  and  always  kneeling,  which 
he  looked  upon  as  the  fittest  and  most  proper 
gesture  for  prayer;  and  he  took  care  that  his 
family  should  address  themselves  to  the  duty 
with  the  outward  expressions  of  reverence 
and  composedness.  He  usually  fetched  his 
matter  and  expressions  in  prayer,  from  the 
chapter  that  was  read,  and  the  psalm  that  was 
sung,  which  was  often  very  affecting,  and 
helped  much  to  stir  up  and  excite  praying 
graces.  He  sometimes  observed  in  those 
psalms,  where  reference  is  had  to  the  Scrip- 
ture stories,  as  Psalm  Ixxxiii.  and  many 
others,  that  those  who  are  well  a^cquainted 
with  the  Scriptures,  would  not  need  to  make 
use  of  the  help  of  prescribed  forms,  which 
are  very  necessary  for  those  that  cannot  do 
the  duty  without  them,  but  are  unbecoming 
those  that  can;  as  a  go-cart  is  needful  to  a 
child,  or  crutches  to  one  that  is  lame,  but 
neither  of  them  agreeable  to  one  that  needs 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


91 


them  not:  'twas  the  comparison  he  common- 
ly used  in  this  matter.  In  family  prayer  he 
was  usually  most  full  in  giving  thanks  for 
family  mercies,  confessing  family  sins,  and 
begging  family  blessings.  Very  particular 
he  would  sometimes  be  in  prayer  for  his  fa- 
mily; if  any  were  absent,  they  were  sure  to 
have  an  express  petition  put  up  for  them. 
He  used  to  observe  concerning  Job.  i.  5,  that 
he  offered  burnt  offerings  for  his  children, 
according  to  the  number  of  them  all,  an 
offering  for  each  child;  and  so  would  he 
sometimes  in  praying  for  children,  put  up  a 
petition  for  each  child.  He  was  observed  at 
the  annual  return  of  the  birth-day  of  each  of 
his  children  to  bless  God  for  his  mercy  to  him 
and  his  wife  in  that  child:  the  giving  of  it, 
the  continuance  of  it,  the  comfort  they  had 
in  it,  &c.  with  some  special  request  to  God 
for  that  child.  Every  servant  and  sojourner, 
at  their  coming  into  his  family  and  their 
going  out  (besides  the  daily  remembrances 
of  them)  had  a  particular  petition  put  up  for 
them,  according  as  their  circumstances  were. 
The  strangers  that  were  at  any  time  within 
his  gates,  he  was  wont  particularly  to  recom- 


92 


LIFE  OF  THE 


mend  to  God  in  prayer,  with  much  affection, 
and  Christian  concern  for  them  and  their 
concernments.  He  was  daily  mindful  of 
those  that  desired  his  prayers  for  them,  and 
would  say  sometimes,  It  is  a  great  comfort 
that  God  knows  who  we  mean  in  prayer, 
though  we  do  not  name  them.  Particular 
providences  concerning  the  country,  as  to 
health  or  sickness,  good  or  bad  weather,  or 
the  like,  he  commonly  took  notice  of  in 
prayer,  as  there  was  occasion;  and  would 
often  beg  of  God  to  fit  us  for  the  next  provi- 
dence, whatever  it  might  be:  nor  did  he 
ever  forget  to  pray  for  the  peace  of  Jerusa- 
lem. He  always  concluded  family  prayer, 
both  morning  and  evening,  with  a  solemn 
benediction,  after  the  doxology;  "the  bless- 
ing of  God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be  with  us,'^  &c.  Thus 
did  he  daily  bless  his  household. 

Immediately  after  the  prayer  was  ended, 
his  children  together,  with  bended  knee, 
asked  blessing  of  him  and  their  mother;  that 
is,  desired  of  them  to  pray  to  God  to  bless 
them:  which  blessing  was  given  with  great 
solemnity  and  aflection ;  and  if  any  of  them 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


93 


were  absent,  they  were  remembered,  "the 
Lord  bless  you  and  your  brother,"  or  "you 
and  your  sister  that  is  absent." 

This  was  his  daily  worship,  which  he 
never  altered,  (unless  as  is  aftermentioned) 
nor  ever  omitted  any  part  of,  though  he  went 
from  home  ever  so  early,  or  returned  ever  so 
late,  or  had  ever  so  much  business  for  his 
servants  to  do.  He  would  say  that  some- 
times he  saw  cause  to  shorten  them;  but  he 
would  never  omit  any;  for  if  an  excuse  be 
once  admitted  for  an  omission,  it  will  be  often 
returning.  He  was  not  willing  (unless  the 
necessity  were  urgent)  that  any  should  go 
from  his  house  in  a  morning  before  family 
worship;  but  upon  such  an  occasion  would 
remind  his  friends,  that  "Prayer  and  proven- 
der never  hinder  a  journey." 

He  managed  his  daily  family  worship  so  as 
to  make  it  a  pleasure  and  not  a  task  to  his  chil- 
dren and  servants;  for  he  was  seldom  long, 
and  never  tedious  in  the  service;  the  variety 
of  the  duties  made  it  the  more  pleasant;  so 
that  none  who  joined  with  him  had  ever  any 
reason  to  say,  Behold  what  a  weariness  is  it! 
Such  an  excellent  faculty  he  had  of  rendering 
religion  the  most  sweet  and  amiable  employ- 


94 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ment  in  the  world;  and  so  careful  was  he 
(Uke  Jacob)  "to  drive  as  the  children  could 
go,"  not  putting  "new  wine  into  old  bottles." 
If  some  good  people  that  mean  well  would  do 
likewise,  it  might  prevent  many  of  those  pre-, 
judices  which  young  persons  are  apt  to  con- 
ceive against  rehgion,  when  the  services  of 
it  are  made  a  toil  and  a  terror  to  them. 

On  Thursday  evenings  (instead  of  reading) 
he  catechised  his  children  and  servants  in  the 
Assembly's  Catechism,  with  the  proofs,  or 
sometimes  in  a  little  catechism,  concerning 
the  matter  of  prayer,  published  in  the  year 
1674,  and  said  to  be  written  by  Dr.  Collins, 
which  they  learned  for  their  help  in  the  gift  of 
prayer,  and  he  explained  it  to  them.  Or  they 
read,  and  he  examined  them  in  some  other 
useful  book,  as  Mr.  Pool's  Dialogues  against 
the  Papists,  the  Assembly's  Confession  of 
Faith  with  the  Scriptures,  or  the  like. 

On  Saturday  evenings,  his  children  and 
servants  gave  him  an  account  of  what  they 
could  remember  of  the  chapters  that  had 
been  expounded  all  the  week  before,  in  order, 
each  a  several  part,  helping  one  another's 
memories  for  the  recollecting  of  it.  This  he 
called,  "  gathering  up  the  fragments  which 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


95 


remained,  that  nothing  might  be  lost."  He 
would  say  to  them  sometimes  as  Clirist  to 
his  disciples,  "Have  ye  understood  all  these 
things?"  If  not,  he  took  that  occasion  to 
explain  them  more  fully.  This  exercise 
(which  he  constantly  kept  up  all  along)  was 
both  delightful  and  profitable,  and  being 
managed  by  him  with  so  much  prudence  and 
sweetness,  helped  to  instill  into  those  about 
him  betimes,  the  knowledge  and  love  of  the 
holy  Scriptures. 

When  he  had  sojourners  in  his  family,  who 
were  able  to  bear  a  part  in  such  a  service,  he 
had  commonly,  in  the  winter  time,  set  week- 
ly conferences,  on  questions  proposed,  for 
their  mutual  edification  and  comfort  in  the 
fear  of  God;  the  substance  of  what  was  said, 
he  himself  took  and  kept  an  account  of  in 
waiting. 

But  the  Lord's  day  he  called  and  counted 
the  queen  of  days,  the  pearl  of  the  week, 
and  observed  it  accordingly.  The  fourth 
commandment  intimates  a  special  regard  to 
be  had  to  the  Sabbath  in  families,  "thou,  and 
thy  son,  and  thy  daughter,"  &c.  it  is  "the 
Sabbath  of  the  Lord  in  all  your  dwellings." 
In  this  therefore  he  was  very  exact,  and 


96  LIFE  OF  THE 

I 

abounded  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  in  his 
family  on  that  day.    Whatever  were  the  cir- 
cumstances of  his  pubhc  opportunities,  (which 
varied  as  we  shall  find  afterwards)  his  fami- 
ly reUgionon  that  day  was  the  same:  extra- 
ordinary sacrifices  must  never  supercede  the 
continual  burnt-offering  and  his  meat-offer- 
ing, Numb,  xxviii.  15.    His  common  saluta- 
tion of  his  family  or  friends,  on  the  Lord's 
day  in  the  morning,  was  that  of  the  primitive 
Christians:  "the  Lord  is  risen,  he  is  risen 
indeed;"  making  it  his  chief  business  on  that 
day,  to  celebrate  the  memory  of  Christ's  re- 
surrection; and  he  would  say  sometimes, 
"Every  Lord's  day  is  a  true  Christian's 
Easter  day."    He  took  care  to  have  his  fam- 
ily ready  early  on  that  day,  and  was  larger 
in  exposition  and  prayer  on  Sabbath  morn- 
ings than  on  other  days.    He  would  often 
remember,  that  under  the  law  the  daily  sacri- 
fice was  doubled  on  Sabbath  days,  two  lambs 
in  the  morning,  and  two  in  the  evening.  He 
had  always  a  particular  subject  for  his  expo- 
sitions on  Sabbath  mornings;  the  harmony  of 
the  Evangelists  several  times  over,  the  Scrip- 
ture prayers.  Old  Testament  prophecies  of 
Christ,  "  Christ  the  true  treasure"  (so  he  en- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


97 


titled  that  subject,)  "  sought  and  found  in  the 
field  of  the  Old  Testament."    He  constantly 
suns  a  psalm  after  dinner,  and  another  after 
supper,  on  the  Lord's  days.    And  in  the 
evening  of  the  day  his  children  and  servants 
were  catechised  and  examined  in  the  sense 
and  meaning  of  the  answers  in  the  catechism ; 
that  they  might  not  say  it  (as  he  used  to  tell 
them)  like  a  parrot,  by  rote.    Then  the  day's 
sermons  were  repeated,  commonly  by  one  of 
his  children,  when  they  were  grown  up,  and 
hile  they  were  with  him ;  and  the  family 
gave  an  account  of  what  they  could  remem- 
ber of  the  word  of  the  day,  which  he  endea- 
voured to  fasten  upon  them,  as  a  nail  in  a 
sure  place.    In  his  prayers  on  the  evening  of 
the  Sabbath,  he  was  often  more  than  ordina- 
rily enlarged;  as  one  that  found  not  only 
God's  service  perfect  freedom,  but  his  work 
Its  own  wages,  and  a  great  reward;  not  only 
after  keeping,  but  (as  he  used  to  observe 
from  Psal.  xix.  11,)  in  keeping  God's  com- 
mandments.   A  present  reward  of  obedience 
m  obedience.   In  that  prayer  he  was  usually 
very  particular,  in  praying  for  his  family 
and  all  that  belonged  to  it.    It  was  a  prayer 
he  often  put  up  that,  that  we  might  have 


98 


LIFE  OF  THE 


grace  to  carry  it  "as  a  minister,  and  a  minis- 
ter's wife,  and  a  minister's  children,  and  a 
minister's  servants  should  carry  it,  that  the 
ministry  might  in  nothing  be  blamed."  He 
would  sometimes  be  a  particular  intercessor 
for  the  towns  and  parishes  adjacent:  how 
have  I  heard  him  when  he  hath  been  in  the 
mount  with  God,  in  a  Sabbath  evening 
prayer,  wrestle  with  the  Lord  for  Chester, 
and  Shrewsbury,  and  Nantwich,  and  Wrex- 
ham, and  Whitchurch,  &c.  those  nests  of 
souls,  wherein  there  are  so  many,  that  can- 
not discern  between  their  right  hand  and 
their  left  in  spiritual  things.  He  closed  his 
Sabbath  work  in  his  family  with  singing 
Psalm  cxxxiv.  and  after  it  a  solemn  blessing 
of  his  family. 

Thus  was  he  prophet  and  priest  in  his  own 
house;  and  he  was  king  there  too,  ruling  in 
the  fear  of  God,  and  not  suffering  sin  upon 
any  under  his  roof. 

He  had  many  years  ago  a  man-servant 
that  was  once  overtaken  in  drink  abroad:  for 
which,  the  next  morning  at  family  worship 
he  solemnly  reproved  him,  admonished  him, 
and  prayed  for  him  with  a  spirit  of  meek- 
ness, and  soon  after  parted  with  him.  But 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


99 


there  were  many  that  were  his  servants,  who, 
by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  endea- 
vours, got  those  good  impressions  upon  their 
souls  which  they  retained  ever  after;  and 
blessed  God  with  all  their  hearts  that  ever 
they  came  under  his  roof.  Few  went  from 
his  service  till  they  were  married,  and  went 
to  families  of  their  own;  and  some  after  they 
had  been  married  and  buried  their  yoke-fel- 
lows, returned  to  his  service  again,  saying, 

Master  it  is  good  to  be  here." 

He  brought  up  his^  children  in  the  fear  of 
God,  with  a  great  deal  of  care  and  tenderness, 
and  did  by  his  practice,  as  well  as  upon  all 
occasions  in  discourses,  condemn  the  indis- 
cretion of  those  parents  who  are  partial  in 
their  affections  to  their  children,  making  a 
difference  between  them,  which  he  observed 
did  often  prove  of  ill  consequence  in  families; 
and  lay  a  foundation  of  envy,  contempt, 
and  discord,  which  turns  to  their  shamxC  and 
ruin.  His  carriage  towards  his  children  was 
with  great  mildness  and  gentleness,  as  one 
who  desired  rather  to  be  loved  than  feared 
by  them.  He  was  as  careful  not  to  provoke 
them  to  wrath,  nor  to  discourage  them,  as  he 
was  to  bring  them  up  in  the  nurture  and  ad- 


100 


LIFE  OF  THE 


monition  of  the  Lord.  He  ruled  indeed,  and 
kept  up  his  authority,  but  it  was  with  wis- 
dom and  love  and  not  with  a  high  hand.  He 
allowed  his  children  a  great  degree  of  free- 
dom with  him,  which  gave  him  the  opportu- 
nity of  reasoning  them,  not  frightening  them 
into  that  which  is  good.  He  did  much  to- 
wcards  the  instruction  of  his  children  in  the 
way  of  familiar  discourse,  according  to  that 
excellent  directory  for  religious  education, 
Deut.  vi.  7.  Thou  shalt  whet  these  things 
(so  the  word  is,  which  he  said  noted  frequent 
repetition  of  the  same  things)  upon  thy  chil- 
dren, and  shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest 
in  thy  house,  &:c.  which  made  them  love 
home  and  delight  in  his  company,  and  great- 
ly endeared  religion  to  them. 

He  did  not  burthen  his  children's  memo- 
ries by  imposing  upon  them  the  getting  of 
chapters  and  psalms  without  book;  but  en- 
deavoured to  make  the  whole  word  of  God 
familiar  to  them,  (especially  the  Scripture 
stories)  and  to  bring  them  to  understand  it 
and  love  it,  and  then  they  would  easily  re- 
member it.  He  used  to  observe  from  Psal. 
cxix.  93;  I  will  never  forget  thy  precepts, 
for  with  them  thou  hast  quickened  me;"  that 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


101 


we  are  then  likely  to  remember  the  word  of 
God  when  it  doth  us  good. 

He  taught  all  his  children  to  write  himself, 
and  set  them  betimes  to  write  sermons  and 
other  things  that  might  be  of  use  to  them. 
He  taught  his  eldest  daughter  the  Hebrew 
tongue  when  she  was  about  six  or  seven 
years  old,  by  an  English  Hebrew  grammar, 
which  he  made  on  purpose  for  her:  and  she 
went  so  far  in  it,  as  to  be  able  readily  to 
read  and  construe  a  Hebrew  psalm. 

He  drew  up  a  short  form  of  the  baptismal 
covenant,  for  the  use  of  his  children ;  it  was 
this: 

"  I  take  God  the  Father  to  be  my  chiefest 
good  and  highest  end. 

I  take  God  the  Son  to  be  my  Prince  and 
Saviour. 

I  take  God  the  Holy  Ghost  to  be  my  sanc- 
tifier,  teacher,  guide,  and  comforter. 

I  take  the  word  of  God  to  be  my  rule  in 
all  my  actions. 

And  the  people  of  God  to  be  my  people  in 
all  conditions. 

I  do  likewise  devote  and  dedicate  unto  the 


102 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Lord,  my  whole  self,  all  I  am,  all  I  have,  and 
all  I  can  do. 

And  this  I  do  deliberately,  sincerely,  free- 
ly, and  for  ever." 

This  he  taught  his  children,  and  they  each 
of  them  solemnly  repeated  it  every  Lord's 
day  in  the  evening,  after  they  were  cate- 
chised, he  putting  his  Amen  to  it,  and  some- 
times adding,  "so  say,  and  so  do,  and  you  are 
made  for  ever." 

He  also  took  pains  with  them,  to  lead  them 
into  the  understanding  of  it,  and  to  persuade 
them  to  a  free  and  cheerful  consent  to  it. 
And  when  they  grew  up,  he  made  them  all 
write  it  over  severally  with  their  own  hands, 
and  very  solemnly  set  their  names  to  it, 
which  he  told  them  he  would  keep  by  him, 
and  it  should  be  produced  as  a  testimony 
against  them,  in  case  they  should  afterwards 
depart  from  God,  and  turn  from  following 
after  him. 

He  was  careful  to  bring  his  children  be- 
times (when  they  were  about  sixteen  years 
of  age)  to  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per, to  take  the  covenant  of  God  upon  them- 


REV.  PHILIP  HEXRY. 


103 


selves,  and  to  make  their  dedication  to  God 
their  own  act  and  deed;  and  a  great  deal  of 
pains  he  took  with  them,  to  prepare  them  for 
that  great  ordinance,  and  so  to  transmit  them 
into  the  state  of  adult  church-membership. 
And  he  would  often  blame  parents,  who 
would  think  themselves  undone  if  they  had 
not  their  children  baptized,  and  yet  took  no 
care  wlHii  they  grew  up  and  made  a  profes- 
sion of  the  Christian  religion,  to  persuade 
them  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  'Tis  true  (he 
would  say)  buds  and  blossoms  are  not  fruit, 
but  they  give  hopes  of  fruit,  and  parents  may 
and  should  take  hold  of  the  good  beginnings 
of  grace  which  they  see  in  their  children,  by 
those  who  bind  them  so  much  the  closer  to  and 
lead  them  so  much  the  faster,  in  the  way  that 
IS  called  holy.  By  this  solemn  engagement 
the  door  which  stood  half  open  before,  and 
invited  the  thief,  is  shut  aiid  bolted  against 
temptation.  And  to  those  who  pleaded  that 
they  were  not  fit,  he  would  say,  that  the  fur- 
ther they  went  into  the  world,  the  less  fit 
they  would  be.  Qui  non  est  hoclie  eras  minus 
aptus  erit.  Not  that  children  should  be 
compelled  to  it,  nor  those  that  are  mlfiully 
ignorant,  untoward,  and  perverse,  admitted 


104 


LIFE  OF  THE 


to  it;  but  those  children  that  are  hopeful  and 
well  inclined  to  the  things  of  God,  and  appear 
to  be  concerned  in  other  duties  of  religion, 
when  they  begin  to  put  away  childish  things, 
should  be  incited,  and  encouraged,  and  per- 
suaded to  this,  that  the  matter  may  be 
brought  to  an  issue.  "Nay,  but  we  will 
serve  the  Lord;"  fast  bind,  fast  find.  Abun- 
dant thanksgivings  have  been  redftered  to 
God  by  many  of  his  friends  for  his  advice 
and  assistance  herein. 

In  dealing  with  his  children,  about  their 
spiritual  state,  he  took  hold  of  them  very 
much  by  the  handle  of  their  infant  baptism, 
and  frequently  inculcated  that  upo'n  them, 
that  they  were  born  in  God's  house,  and  were 
betimes  dedicated  and  given  up  to  him,  and 
therefore  were  obliged  to  be  his  servants, 
Psal.  cxvi.  16,  I  am  thy  servant,  because  the 
the  son  of  thy  handmaid.  This  he  was  wont 
to  illustrate  to  them  by  the  comparison  of 
taking  a  lease  of  a  fair  estate  for  a  child  in 
the  cradle,  and  putting  his  life  into  it ;  the 
child  then  knows  nothing  of  the  matter,  nor 
is  he  capable  of  consenting;  however,  then 
he  is  maintained  out  of  it,  and  hath  an  interest 
in  it;  and  when  he  grows  up  and  becomes 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


105 


able  to  choose,  and  refuse  for  himself,  if  he 
go  to  his  landlord,  and  claim  the  benefit  of 
the  lease,  and  promise  to  pay  the  rent,  and 
do  the  services,  well  and  good,  he  hath  the 
benefit  of  it,  if  otherwise,  it  is  at  his  peril. 
*'Now,  children,  (would  he  say)  our  great 
Landlord  was  willing  that  your  lives  should 
be  put  into  the  lease  of  heaven  and  happi- 
ness, an(ifcit  was  done  accordingly,  by  your 
baptism,  which  is  the  seal  of  the  righteous- 
ness that  is  by  faith;  and  by  that  it  was 
assured  to  you,  that  if  you  would  pay  the 
rent  and  do  the  service,  that  is,  live  a  life  of 
faith  and  repentance,  and  sincere  obedience, 
you  shall  never  be  turned  off  the  tenement; 
but  if  now  you  dislike  the  terms,  and  re- 
fuse to  pay  this  rent,  you  forfeit  the  lease; 
however,  you  cannot  but  say,  that  you  had 
a  kindness  done  you,  to  have  your  lives  put 
into  it.''  Thus  did  he  frequently  deal  with 
his  children,  and  even  travel  in  birth  again 
to  see  Christ  formed  in  them,  and  from  this 
topic  he  generally  argued,  and  he  would 
often  say,  if  infant  baptism  were  more  im- 
proved, it  would  be  less  disputed. 
1  He  not  only  taught  his  children  betimes 
|to  pray,  (which  he  did  especially  by  h^^  own 
I  10 


106 


LIFE  OF  THE 


pattern,  his  method  and  expressions  in  prayer 
being  very  easy  and  plain)  but  when  they 
were  young  he  put  them  upon  it,  to  pray  to- 
gether, and  appointed  them  on  Saturdays  in 
the  afternoon  to  spend  some  time  together; 
none  but  they  and  such  of  their  age  as  might 
occasionally  be  with  them,  in  reading  good 
books,  especially  those  for  children,  and  in 
singing  and  praying;  and  would  lifetimes 
tell  them  for  their  encouragement,  that  the 
God  with  whom  we  have  to  do,  understands 
broken  language.  And  if  we  do  as  well  as 
we  can  in  the  sincerity  of  our  hearts,  we 
shall  not  only  be  accepted,  but  taught  to  do 
better :  "  to  him  that  hath  shall  be  given." 

He  sometimes  set  his  children,  in  their  own 
reading  of  the  Scriptures,  to  gather  out  such 
passages  as  they  took  most  notice  of,  and 
thought  most  considerable,  and  write  them 
down:  though  this  performance  was  very 
small,  yet  the  endeavour  was  of  good  use. 
He  also  directed  them  to  insert  in  a  paper 
book,  which  each  of  them  had  for  the  pur- 
pose, remarkable  sayings,  and  stories,  which 
they  met  with  in  reading  such  other  good 
books  as  he  put  into  their  hands. 

He  took  a  pleasure  in  relating  to  them 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


107 


the  remarkable  providences  of  God,  both  in 
his  own  time,  and  in  the  days  of  old,  which 
he  said,  parents  were  tanght  to  do  by  that 
appointment,  Exod.  xii.  26,  27.  Your  chil- 
dren shall  ask  you  in  time  to  come.  What 
mean  you  by  this  service?  and  you  shall  tell 
them  so  and  so. 

What  his  pious  care  was  concerning  his 
children,  and  with  what  a  godly  jealousy  he 
was  jealous  over  them,  take  in  one  instance: 
when  they  had  been  for  a  week,  or  a  fort- 
night, kindly  entertained  at  B.  (as  they  were 
often.)  he  thus  writes  in  his  diary  upon  their 
return  home :  "  My  care  and  fear  is,  lest 
converse  with  such  so  far  above  them,  though 
of  the  best,  should  have  influence  upon  them 
to  lift  them  up,  when  I  had  rather  they 
should  be  kept  low."  For  as  he  did  not 
himself,  so  he  was  very  solicitous  to  teach 
his  children,  not  to  mind  high  things;  not  to 
desire  them,  not  to  expect  them  in  this  world. 

We  shall  conclude  this  chapter  with  an- 
other passage  out  of  his  diary,  April  12,  1681. 

This  day  fourteen  years  the  Lord  took  my 
first-born  son  from  me,  the  beginning  of  my 
strength,  with  a  stroke.  In  the  remembrance 
whereof  my  heart  melted  this  evening:  I  beg- 


108 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ged  pardon  for  the  Jonah  that  raised  the 
storm ;  1  blessed  the  Lord  that  hath  spared  the 
rest,  I  begged  mercy,  mercy  for  every  one  of 
them,  and  absohitely  and  unreservedly  de- 
voted and  dedicated  them,  myself,  my  whole 
self,  estate,  interest,  and  life,  to  the  will  and 
service  of  that  God  from  whom  I  received 
all.  Father,  hallowed  be  thy  name.  Thy 
kingdom  come,"  &c. 


CHAPTER  V. 


His  Ejectment  from  Worthenbury — his  Non-conformity — 
his  removal  to  Broad  Oak,  and  other  occurrences  up  to 
1672. 

We  are  now  arrived  at  a  period  in  Mr. 
Henry's  life,  in  which  his  troubles  may  be 
said  to  have  begun.  No  sooner  had  the  res- 
toration of  the  king  taken  place,  than  a  vio- 
lent spirit  of  opposition  to  such  men  as  Mr. 
Henry,  was  manifest  throughout  the  nation. 
The  rectory  of  Bangor,  which  had  been  held 
many  years  by  Mr.  Fogg,  now  reverted  to 
Doctor  Henry  Bridgman,  in  consequence  of 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


109 


which  Mr.  Henry  began  to  be  apprehensive 
that  his  interest  at  Worthenbury  was  shaken. 
But  in  these  circumstances  he  writes,  "The 
will  of  the  Lord  be  done.  Lord,  if  my  work 
be  done  here,  provide  some  other  minister 
for  this  people  that  may  be  more  skilful, 
more  successful,  and  cut  out  work  for  me, 
somewhere  else.  However,  I  will  take  no- 
thing ill  which  God  doth  with  me."  He 
did  what  he  could  to  conciliate  the  friendship 
of  Dr.  Bridgman,  who  gave  him  good  words, 
and  was  very  civil  to  him,  and  assured  him 
that  he  would  never  remove  him,  till  the 
law  did.  But  as  Worthenbury  fell  back  in- 
to its  former  connexion  with  Bangor,  he  was 
obliged  to  consider  himself  as  curate  to  the 
rector  of  that  parish. 

But  the  great  question  which  now  occu- 
pied his  attention,  as  well  as  that  of  thou- 
sands of  ministers  beside,  was,  whether  to 
conform  or  not.  He  took  all  possible  pains 
to  satisfy  himself  on  this  point,  by  reading, 
and  conference  with  learned  men,  particu- 
larly with  Dr.  Fell,  afterwards  bishop  of  Ox- 
ford. But  his  mind  remained  unsatisfied. 
The  most  of  the  arguments  used  with  him  to 
induce  him  to  conform,  were  addressed  to  the 


110 


LIFE  OF  THE 


principle  of  convenience  and  self-interest. 
But  he  was  actuated  by  far  higher  motives. 
And  his  expression,  in  his  diary,  is,  "  God 
grant  that  I  may  never  be  left  to  consult 
with  flesh  and  blood,  in  such  matters." 

In  September  1G60,  Mr.  Fogg,  Mr.  Steel, 
and  Mr.  Henry,  were  presented  at  Flint 
Assizes,  for  not  reading  the  common  prayer; 
although,  as  yet  there  was  no  law  enjoining 
it;  but  there  were  some  busy  people  that 
would  out  run  the  law.  They  were  relieved, 
however,  by  the  king's  proclamation,  which 
promised  liberty.  But  in  the  spring  he  was 
presented  again,  which  led  him  to  write  thus, 
"  Be  merciful  to  me  0  God,  for  man  would 
swallow  me  up.  The  Lord  show  me  what 
he  would  have  me  to  do,  for  I  am  afraid  of 
nothing  but  sin." 

In  November  1660,  he  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance,  of  which  he  has  left  a  memoran- 
dum in  his  diary,  with  these  words  added, 
"  God  so  help  me,  as  I  propose  in  my  heart, 
to  do  accordingly."  Nor  could  any  man 
more  conscientiously  observe  that  oath  of 
God,  than  he  did,  or  more  sincerely  pro- 
mote its  ends. 

To  increase  his  troubles,  his  annuity,  from 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


Ill 


Emeral,  was  now  withheld,  and  he  was 
treated  with  much  unkindness  by  some  of 
the  members  of  that  family;  yet  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  enjoying  the  unceasing  friend- 
ship of  the  Broughton  family,  even  to  his 
dying  day. 

In  the  year  1661,  many  attempts  were 
made  to  disturb  and  ensnare  him,  and  the 
expectation  was,  that  he  would  soon  be  si- 
lenced, or  removed.  This  state  of  things  in- 
duced him  to  make  the  following  pious  reflec- 
tions- "  Methinks,  Sabbaths  were  never  so 
sweet  as  they  now  are,  when  we  are  kept 
at  such  uncertainties.  Now,  a  day  in  thy 
courts,  is  better  than  a  thousand.  Such  a 
day  as  this  (a  sacrament  day)  is  better  than 
ten  thousand.  0  that  we  might  yet  see 
many  such  days!" 

It  was  not  long  before  Dr.  Bridgman  for- 
mally gave  Mr.  Henry  his  dismission  from 
Worthenbury,  of  which  notice  was  publish- 
ed to  the  congregation,  on  the  27th  of  Octo- 
ber. He,  on  that  day,  preached  his  farewell 
sermon,  from  Phil.  i.  27.  Only  let  your 
conversation  be  as  becometh  the  gospel  of 
Christ."  His  daily  prayer  for  them  was, 
"  Tiie  Lord,  the  God  of  the  spirits  of  all 


112 


LIFE  OF  THE 


flesh,  set  a  man  iDver  the  congregation." 
Thus  he  ceased  to  preach  to  his  people  there, 
but  he  did  not  cease  to  love  them  and  pray 
for  them.  As  to  the  arrears  of  his  annuity, 
after  some  time,  Mr.  Puleston  consented  to 
give  him  a  hundred  pounds,  a  good  deal  less 
than  was  due — on  condition  that  he  would 
surrender  his  deed  of  annuity,  and  his  lease 
of  the  house;  which  for  peace  sake,  he  was 
willing  to  do;  so  he  was  deprived  of  all  the 
benefit  of  Judge  Puleston's  great  kindness  to 
him. 

After  this,  he  continued  in  the  house  until 
1662,  but  never  preached  again  in  the  church; 
though  he  regularly  attended  the  services  of 
his  successor,  Mr.  Hilton,  and  joined  in  all 
the  parts  of  public  worship.  And  once,  being 
permitted  to  use  his  own  posture,  he  par- 
took of  the  Lord's  supper.  When  silenced, 
at  Worthenbury,  he  was  solicited  to  preach 
at  Bangor,  and  Dr.  Bridgman  was  willing  to 
permit  it,  but  he  declined  it.  He  frequently 
preached  in  other  neighbourhoods,  however, 
until  Bartholomew's  day — "The  day,"  said 
he,  which  our  sins  have  made  one  of  the 
saddest  days  to  England  since  the  death  of 
Edward  VL — but  even  this  for  good." 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


113 


His  reasons  for  non-conformity  were  not 
trivial.  He  had  well  considered  the  whole 
subject,  and  weighed  the  reasons  on  both 
sides,  in  the  balances  of  the  sanctuary.  He 
could  by  no  means  submit  to  be  re-ordained; 
so  well  satisfied  was  he  of  his  call  to  the 
ministry,  and  his  solemn  ordination  to  it,  by 
the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  presbytery, 
that  he  durst  not  do  that  which  looked  like  a 
renunciation  of  it,  as  null  and  sinful;  and 
which  would  be  at  least  a  tacit  invalidating 
and  condemning  all  his  ministrations.  Nor 
could  he  truly  say,  that  he  felt  himself  moved 
by  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  take  upon  him  the 
office  of  a  deacon.  Moreover,  the  form  of 
subscription  required  by  Dr.  Hall,  Bishop  of 
Chester  was  one  to  which  he  could  not  con- 
scientiously consent;  because  it  contained  a 
formal  renunciation  of  his  former  ordination. 
Ego  A.  B — prsetensas  meas  ordinationis 
literas,  a  quihiisdam  Presbyteris  olim  oh- 
tentas^  jam  penitus  renuncio,  &c.  &c.  Be- 
sides this,  he  was  not  satisfied  to  give  his 
unfeigned  assent,  to  all  and  every  thing,  con- 
tained in  the  book  of  Common  Prayer;  for 
^Mie  thought,  that  thereby  he  would  receive 
the  book  itself  and  every  part  thereof,  ru- 


114 


LIFE  OF  THE 


brics  and  all,  both  as  true  and  good;  where- 
as there  were  several  things,  which  he  could 
not  think  to  be  so.  The  exceptions  which 
the  ministers  made  against  the  liturgy  at  the 
Savoy  conference,  he  thought  very  consider- 
able; and  he  could  not  submit  to,  much  less 
approve  the  imposition  of  ceremonies.  He 
often  said,  that  when  Christ  came  to  free  us 
from  the  yoke  of  one  ceremonial  law,  he  did 
not  leave  it  in  the  power  of  any  man,  or 
company  of  men  in  the  world,  to  lay  another 
upon  our  necks.  Kneeling  at  the  Lord's 
supper  he  was  much  dissatisfied  with ;  and 
it  was  a  subject  of  grief  and  deep  lamenta- 
tion, that  for  several  years,  he  was  prevented 
by  this  regulation,  from  partaking  of  this 
holy  ordinance.  It  need  not  be  wondered 
at,  that  he  was  a  non-conformist,  for  the 
terms  of  conformity  were  intended  to  keep 
out  just  such  men  as  he  was. 

When  his  old  master  Mr.  Busby  met  him, 
he  said  my  son,  how  came  you  to  be  a  non- 
conformist? Mr.  Henry  replied,  "  Why  in- 
deed sir,  you  made  me  one ;  the  things  which 
I  learnt  from  you  are  the  cause  of  my  non- 
conformity." 

When  the  Lord  Chamberlain  told  the  king. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


115 


that  Ihe  terms  of  conformity  were  so  hard, 
that  he  was  afraid  that  the  ministers  would 
not  comply  with  this;  Bishop  Sheldon,  as 
Mr.  Baxter  relates,  said,  "  I  am  afraid  they 
will."  Many  who  were  in  doubt  what  they 
would  do,  until  that  act  was  published,  were 
immediately  decided.  This  is  said  to  have 
been  the  fact,  in  regard  to  Mr.  Anthony 
Burgess. 

But  although  Mr.  Henry  was  a  decided 
non-conformist  on  principle,  yet  he  was 
moderate  in  his  conduct  and  sentiments;  and 
his  example  had  influence  on  many  to  pre- 
vent them  from  running  into  an  uncharitable 
and  schismatical  separation,  against  which 
he  constantly  bore  his  testimony,  and  was 
very  industrious  to  stem  the  tide  of  such  a 
spirit.  In  church-government,  that  which 
he  wished  for,  was,  Archbishop  Usher^s  re- 
duction of  Episcopacy.  He  thought  it  law- 
ful to  join  in  the  common-prayer,  in  public 
assemblies,  and  practised  accordingly,  and 
endeavoured  to  satisfy  others,  concerning  it. 
The  spirit  he  was  of,  made  him  much  afraid 
of  extremes,  and  solicitous  for  nothing  more 
than  to  keep  up  Christian  love  and  charity, 
among  professors. 


116 


LIFE  OF  THE 


But  to  resume  the  history.  He  removed 
to  Broad  Oaks,  at  Michaelmas,  1662,  just 
nine  years  from  the  time  he  first  came  into 
that  part  of  the  country.  Three  weeks  after 
his  arrival,  his  second  son  was  born;  on 
which  occasion  he  said,  "  We  have  no  rea- 
son to  call  him  Benoni,  I  wish  we  had  none 
to  call  him,  Ichabod. 

For  several  years  after  his  setdement,  at 
Broad  Oak,  he  went  with  his  family,  regu- 
larly to  public  worship,  on  the  Lord's  day; 
and  did  not  preach  himself,  except  when  he 
visited  his  friends;  or,  to  his  own  family, 
when  the  weather  hindered  them  from  going 
to  church.  In  this  state  of  the  suspension  of 
his  ministry,  in  which  he  so  much  delighted, 
and  so  much  excelled,  he  comforted  himself, 
by  the  consideration,  that  sometimes  he  had 
by  attending  public  worship,  the  opportunity 
of  conversing  with  many,  and  of  communi- 
cating instructions  to  them,  according  to  their 
necessities.  And  in  this  way,  his  lips  fed 
many,  and  his  tongue  was  as  choice  silver; 
and  he  acted  on  the  sound  principle,  that 
when  we  cannot  do  what  we  would,  we 
must  do  what  we  can,  and  the  Lord  will  ac- 
cept us  in  it.    His  motive  in  attending  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


117 


public  service,  was,  to  bear  his  testimony  to 
public  ordinances;  though  sometimes,  the 
SLirmons  preached  in  his  hearing,  put  pa- 
tience to  a  severe  trial.  His  disposition  to 
labour  in  the  .vineyard,  remained  undimin- 
ished, and  when  he  visited  his  friends,  he 
laid  himself  out  to  be  useful  to  them  in  every 
way.  But  still  his  mind  was  not  entirely  at 
ease,  in  this  state  of  silence,  in  obedience  to 
human  laws,  as  appears  by  the  following 
reflections,  found  in  his  diary.  ^'  I  own  my- 
self a  minister  of  Christ,  yet  do  nothing  as  a 
minister.  What  will  excuse  me?  Is  it 
enough  for  me  to  say,  behold  I  stand  in  the 
market  place,  and  no  man  hath  hired  me 
Then  he  appeals  to  God,  "  Lord  thou  know- 
est  what  will  I  have  to  thy  work,  pubUc  or 
private,  if  only  I  had  a  call  and  an  oppor- 
tunity, and  shall  this  willing  mind  be  ac- 
cepted 

Surely  this  is  a  melancholy  consideration, 
and  lays  a  great  deal  of  blame  somewhere, 
that  such  a  man  as  Mr.  Henry,  so  well  quali- 
fied, by  gifts  and  graces,  for  ministerial  work, 
and  in  the  prime  of  his  life;  so  sound  and 
orthodox;  so  humble  and  modest,  so  quiet 
and  peaceable,  so  pious  and  blameless,  should 


118 


l.IFE  OF  THE 


be  thrust  out  of  the  vineyard,  as  a  useless 
and  unprofitable  servant,  and  laid  aside  as  a 
despised  and  broken  vessel,  and  a  vessel  in 
which  there  was  no  pleasure.  This  is  a  la- 
mentation, and  shall  be  for  a  lamentation; 
especially,  since  it  was  not  his  case  alone  but 
that  of  so  many  hundreds  of  the  same  char- 
acter. The  condition  of  many  of  these  too, 
was  far  worse  than  his,  as  it  regarded  tem- 
poral subsistence;  for  they  were  not  only 
silenced,  but  cast  out  from  their  livings,  with 
large  families  dependent  on  them,  and  with- 
out any  means  of  comfortable  support.  One 
of  his  intimate  friends,  Mr.  Lawrence,  v/hen 
ejected,  had  a  wife  and  ten  children,  and 
nothing  to  support  them.  When  asked  what 
he  intended  to  do,  he  calmly  replied,  "  they 
must  live  on  the  Vlth.  of  Matthew,  "Take 
no  thought  for  your  life."  And  he  often 
sung  with  his  family.  Psalm  xxxvii.  16. 
And  Mr.  Henry  has  noted  in  his  diary,  the 
love  and  mercy  of  God  towards  this  depen- 
dent family,  providing  for  them  in  a  way  be- 
yond all  expectation.  At  the  close  of  Mr. 
Henry's  life,  when  now  old,  he  remarks, 
that  although  the  families  of  the  ejected  min- 
isters were  brought  often  very  low,  as  they 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


119 


had  many  children,  and  were  greatly  harass- 
ed by  persecution;  and  their  friends  com- 
monly poor  and  unable  to  help  them;  yet  he 
never  heard  that  any  of  them  were  imprison- 
ed for  debt. 

In  October  1663,  Mr.  Henry  and  his 
friend,  Mr.  Steel,  were  taken  up,  and  brought 
prisoners  to  Hanmer,  on  pretence  of  some 
plot  against  the  government.  While  under 
duresse,  he  writes,  "  It  is  sweet  being  in  any 
condition,  with  a  clear  conscience;  the  sting 
of  death  is  sin,  and  so  of  imprisonment,  also. 
'Tis  the  first  time  I  was  ever  prisoner,  but 
it  may  not  be  the  last;  we  felt  no  hardship 
but  we  know  not  what  we  may."  Upon 
examination  of  the  proper  officers,  nothing 
appeared  against  them,  and  they  were  dis- 
missed, but  held  under  a  recognizance  to  ap- 
pear again  at  twenty-four  hours  warning, 
when  called  for.  Mr.  Henry  returned  to 
his  tabernacle,  with  thanksgiving  to  God, 
and  a  hearty  prayer  for  his  enemies,  that 
God  would  forgive  them.  The  very  next 
day  after  thqy  were  released,  a  great  man  in 
the  country,  at  whose  instigation  they  were 
brought  into  trouble,  died,  it  is  said  of  a 
drunken  surfeit.    So  that  a  man  shall  say, 


120 


LIFE  OF  THE 


"  Verily  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the 
earth. In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1665, 
when  an  act  was  passed  for  two  milHons 
and  a  half  to  be  collected  in  aid  of  his  majes- 
ty, the  Commissioners  of  Flintshire  appoint- 
ed Mr.  Henry  a  snb-collector  for  the  town- 
ship of  Iscoyd,  and  Mr.  Steel  for  Hanmer; 
which  was  intended  to  put  an  affront  upon 
these  persecuted  men,  and  to  show  that  they 
were  regarded  as  mere  laymen.  In  Septem- 
ber, of  the  same  year,  he  and  Mr.  Steel  were 
again  apprehended,  and  examined  in  relation 
to  some  private  meetings  which  they  had  at- 
tended. Mr.  Henry  averred  that  in  Shrop- 
shire, he  had  attended  some  private  meetings; 
but  the  case  was  extraordinary.  The  plague 
was  at  that  time  raging  in  London;  and  he 
and  several  of  his  friends  having  near  rela- 
tives there  thought  it  reasonable  to  seek  the 
Lord  for  them;  and  this  was  imputed  to 
them  as  a  crime.  He  was  likewise  charged 
with  having  administered  the  Lord's  Supper, 
which  he  denied;  having  never  administered 
it  since  the  act  of  uniformity  .had  passed. 
After  some  days  confinement,  since  they 
could  prove  nothing  against  him,  he  was  dis- 
charged on  a  recognizance  of  twenty  pounds, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


121 


with  two  sureties  to  be  forthcoming,  on  no- 
tice, and  to  live  peaceably. 

At  Lady  day,  1666,  the  five  mile  act  went 
into  operation  by  which  all  non-conformist 
ministers  were  forbidden,  on  pain  of  six 
months  imprisonment,  to  come,  or  be,  within 
five  miles  of  any  corporation,  or  of  any  place 
where  they  had  been  ministers ;  unless  they 
would  take  an  oath,  which,  it  was  reported, 
the  Earl  of  Southampton,  then  Lord  high 
treasurer  of  England,  said,  *  no  honest  man 
could  take.'  Mr.  Baxter,  in  his  life,  has 
set  down  at  large  his  reasons  against  taking 
this  Oxford  oath,  as  it  was  called.  'Twas 
an  oath,  not  at  any  time  to  endeavour  any 
alteration  of  the  government,  in  the  church 
or  state.  Mr.  Henry  had  already  taken  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King,  and  he  con- 
sidered this  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
bishops,  which  he  was  not  free  to  take. 

His  reflections  on  the  occasion  are  worthy 
of  our  notice.  "  This  day  methought,  it  was 
made  more  clear  to  me  than  ever,  by  the 
hand  of  my  God  upon  me,  and  I  note  it 
down,  that  I  may  remember  it,  1.  That  the 
government  of  the  church  of  Christ  ought  to 
be  managed  by  the  ministers  of  Christ.  It 
11 


122 


LIFE  OF  THE 


appears  from  Heb.  xiii.  7,  that  they  are  to 
rule  who  speak  to  iis  the  word  of  God. 
2.  That  under  prelacy  ministers  have  not 
the  management  of  Church  government,  not 
in  the  least,  being  only  the  pubUshers  of  the 
prelates,  decrees,  as  in  excommunication  and 
absolution;  which  decrees,  are  sometimes 
given  forth  by  lay  chancellors.    3.  That, 
therefore,  prelacy  is  an  usurpation  in  the 
church  of  God,  upon  the  crown  and  dignity 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  upon  the  gospel  rights 
of  his  servants,  the  ministers.   4.  And,  there- 
fore, I  ought  not  to  subscribe  it  (this  oath) 
nor  to  swear  not  to  endeavour,  in  all  lawful 
ways,  the  alteration  of  it,  viz:  by  persuading 
and  praying  where  there  is  opportunity. 
5.  That  I  may  safely  venture  to  suffer  in  the 
refusal  of  such  an  oath,  committing  my  soul, 
life,  estate,  liberty,  all,  to  Him  who  judgeth 
righteously."    On  the  day,  on  which  the 
act  passed,  he  writes:  "A  sad  day  among 
poor  ministers,  up  and  down  this  nation; 
who  by  this  act  of  restraint,  are  forced  to 
remove  from  among  their  friends,  acquaint- 
ance, and  relations,  and  to  sojourn  among 
strangers,  as  it  were  in  Mesech,  and  in  the 
tents  of  Kedar.    But  there  is  a  God,  who 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


123 


tells  their  wanderings,  and  will  put  their 
tears,  and  the  tears  of  his  wives  and  chil- 
dren, in  his  bottle;  are  they  not  in  his  book? 
The  Lord  be  a  little  sanctuary  to  them,  and 
a  place  of  refuge,  from  the  storm  and  from 
the  tempest;  and  pity  those  places  from 
which  they  are  ejected!" 

Mr.  Henry's  house,  at  Broad  Oak,  was 
but  four  computed  miles  from  the  nearest 
border  of  Worthenbury  parish,  but  he  got  it 
measured,  and  counting  1760  yards  to  a 
mile,  which  was  statute  measure,  it  was 
found  to  be  just  five  miles  and  threescore 
yards;  which  one  would  think,  would  have 
been  enough  to  secure  him  from  the  operation 
of  this  law;  but  there  were  persons  near  him, 
disposed  to  stretch  the  laws  to  the  utmost 
rigour,  and  therefore  insisted  on  it  being  un- 
derstood, of  computed  miles.  This  obliged 
him,  for  some  time,  to  leave  his  family,  and 
to  sojourn  among  his  friends,  to  whom  he 
endeavoured,  wherever  he  came,  to  impart 
some  spiritual  gift.  At  last,  he  ventured 
home,  presuming,  among  other  things,  that 
the  warrant  by  which  he  was  made  collector 
of  the  royal  aid,  while  that  continued,  would 
secure  him,  according  to  a  proviso,  in  the  last 


124 


LIFE  OF  THE 


clause  of  "the  act;  which,  when  his  persecu- 
tors perceived,  they  discharged  him  from 
that  office,  before  he  had  served  out  the  time. 

He  was  much  affected  with  that  dispensa- 
tion of  providence,  by  which  the  non-con- 
formists were  removed  from  London,  before 
the  great  fire;  as  it  seemed  to  be  in  mercy  to 
them,  to  remove  them  out  of  the  way,  before 
thatdesolating  judgment  came.  But  he  con- 
sidered it  a  loud  call  to  the  rulers  of  the  na- 
tion, as  though  it  had  been  said,  ^'  Let  my 
people  go  that  they  may  serve  me;  and  if  ye 
will  not,  behold  thus  and  thus  will  I  do  unto 
you.'' 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1667,  he  re- 
moved his  family  to  Whitchurch,  and  dwelt 
there  above  a  year,  except  that  for  one  quar- 
ter, about  harvest,  he  returned  to  Broad  Oak. 
His  removal  to  Whitchurch,  was,  partly  to 
quiet  his  enemies,  who  were  ever  ready  to 
trouble  him,  on  the  ground  of  the  five  mile 
act;  and  partly  for  the  benefit  of  the  school 
there,  for  his  children.  And  there  he  buried 
bis  eldest  son,  not  quite  six  years  old ;  a  child 
of  extraordinary  pregnancy  and  forwardness 
in  learning,  and  a  very  tractable  disposition. 
Jlis  own  character  of  the  child  was,  "  Frse- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


125 


terqiie  setatem  nil  puerile  fuit,  i.  e.  except 
his  age,  there  was  nothing  childish  about 
him!  This  was  a  great  affliction  to  the  pa- 
rents. Mr.  Henry,  many  years  afterwards, 
said,  he  thought  he  did,  at  that  time,  apply 
too  sensibly  to  himself,  that  Scripture  in  Lam. 
iii.  1.  "I  am  the  man  that  hath  seen  afflic- 
tion.'^ And  he  would  say  to  his  friends,  on 
such  occasions,  "  Losers  think  they  may  have 
leave  to  speak,  but  they  must  have  a  care 
what  they  say,  lest  speaking  amiss  to  God's 
dishonour,  they  make  work  for  repentance, 
and  shed  tears,  that  must  be  wept  over 
again."  He  remarked  that  this  child  had  been 
always  very  patient,  under  rebukes,  "  the 
remembrance  of  which,"  says  he,  "teacheth 
me  now  how  to  carry  it  under  the  rebuke 
of  my  heavenly  Father.  His  prayer  on  this 
occasion,  was,  "  Show  me  Lord,  show  me, 
wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me.  Have 
I  over-boasted,  over-loved,  over-prized."  A 
Lord's  day  intervening  between  the  death 
and  burial  of  the  child,  he  attended  public 
worship.  Though  sad  in  spirit,  like  Job,  who 
after  all  the  evil  tidings  that  were  brought 
him,  of  which  the  death  of  children  was  the 
last  and  heaviest,  yet  fell  down  and  worship- 


126 


LIFE  OP  THE 


ped.  And  he  would  often  say,  on  snch  occa- 
sions, "  weeping  must  not  hinder  sowing." 
Upon  the  interment  of  the  child,  he  has  this 
remark:  "  My  dear  child,  now  mine  no  lon- 
ger, was  laid  in  the  cold  earth:  not  lost,  but 
sown  to  be  raised  again,  a  glorious  body — 
and  I  shall  go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return 
to  me.'^  A  few  days  after,  his  dear  friend, 
Lawrence,  buried  a  daughter,  that  was 
grown  up,  and  very  hopeful,  and  gave  good 
evidence  of  a  work  of  grace  wrought  upon 
her  soul.  On  which  he  observes,  "  How  wil- 
ling may  parents  be  to  part  with  such,  when 
the  Lord  calls:  they  are  not  lost  but  gone 
before."  "  The  Lord  hath  made  his  poor 
servants,  that  have  been  often  companions 
in  his  work,  now  companions  in  tribulation — 
the  very  same  tribulation — me  for  my  sin; 
but  him  for  his  trial." 

While  at  Whitchurch,  he  attended  rever- 
ently and  punctually  on  the  public  services 
of  the  church.  In  the  evening  of  the  Lord's 
day,  he  spent  some  time  instructing  his  fami- 
ly, to  which  a  few  of  his  friends  and  neigh- 
bours, in  the  town,  would  sometimes  come 
in;  and  it  was  a  little  gleam  of  opportunity, 
but  very  short;  "for,"  as  he  remarks,  "  He 


»EV.  PHIXIP  HXNRr. 


127 


was  offended  at  it,  who  ought  rather  to  have 
rejoiced,  if  by  any  means  the  work  might  be 
carried  on  in  his  people's  souls."  In  this 
year,  1667,  for  the  first  time  he  administered 
the  Lord's  supper,  very  privately,  to  a  few 
pious  persons,  who  did  not  think  it  lawful  to 
receive  the  ordinance,  kneeling. 

In  February  1668,  he  and  Mr.  Lawrence, 
being  at  Betley,  in  Staffordshire;  and  there 
being,  at  that  time,  some  little  connivance, 
with  the  consent  of  all  concerned,  they 
preached  in  the  church ;  the  one  in  the  morn- 
ing, and  the  other  in  the  afternoon  of  the 
Lord's  day,  very  peaceably  and  profitably. 
This  action  of  theirs,  however,  was  soon 
afterwards,  reported  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, with  the  addition,  that  they  tare  the 
prayer  book,  trampled  the  surplice  under 
their  feet,  and  pulled  the  minister  of  the 
place  out  of  the  pulpit.  This  and  other  false 
reports,  induced  many  to  petition  to  have 
the  laws  more  rigorously  executed  against 
the  non-conformists.  The  King  accordingly 
issued  a  proclamation  to  that  effect;  but  in 
his  speech  at  the  opening  of  the  parliament, 
he  had  recently  expressed  the  desire  that 
some  way  might  be  found  to  compose  the 


128 


LIFE  OF  THE 


minds  of  his  protestant  subjects;  which  exci- 
ted hopes  in  many,  that  there  would  speedily 
be  enlargement.  Mr.  Henry's  sage,  and 
pious  remark  was,  We  cannot  expect  too 
little  from  man,  nor  too  much  from  God.'*' 

It  furnishes  a  remarkable  evidence  that 
Mr.  Henry  and  his  non-conformist  friends, 
acted  from  conscientious  and  disinterested 
principles,  that  although  they  were  so  severe- 
ly treated  by  the  government,  and  were 
harassed  by  vexatious  prosecutions  on  the 
ground  of  mere  suspicion;  yet  they,  gener- 
ally used  their  endeavours  to  preserve  and 
promote  a  good  affection  towards  civil  rulers. 
Although  oppression  is  suited  to  make  a  wise 
man  mad;  and  on  this  account  the  non-con- 
formist ministers  were  commonly  denounced 
from  the  pulpits  of  the  nation,  as  a  turbulent 
and  factious  people;  and  as  was  said  of  old, 
"hurtful  to  kings  and  provinces;"  yet  they 
remained  quiet,  and  created  no  disturbances 
in  the  land.  Mr.  Henry's  sentiments — with 
w^hich  his  conduct  was  correspondent — may 
be  best  learned  from  a  sermon  preached  by 
him  to  a  few  friends,  in  one  of  those  private 
meetings,  called  "seditious  conventicles,"  in 
the  year,  1 669.    The  following  is  an  extract. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY.  129 

The  text  was  Psalm  xxxv.  20,  '-That  is  the 
character  of  the  people  of  God,  that  they  are 
a  quiet  people,  in  the  land.'^  This  quietness, 
he  described  to  be,  an  orderly  peaceable  sub- 
jection to  governors  and  government  in  the 
Lord.  We  must  maintain  a  reverent  esteem 
of  them,  and  of  their  authority,  in  opposition 
to  despising  dominions.  We  must  be  meek, 
under  severe  commands  and  burthensome 
impositions,  not  murmuring  and  complaining, 
as  the  Israelites,  against  Moses  and  Aaron; 
but  take  them  up  as  the  cross  in  our  way, 
and  bear  them  as  we  do  foul  weather.  We 
must  not  speak  evil  of  dignities;  nor  revile 
the  gods.  Paul  checked  himself  for  this.  I 
did  not  consider  it,  if  I  had,  I  would  not  have 
said  so.  We  must  not  traduce  the  govern- 
ment, as  Absalom  did  David's.  Great  care 
is  to  be  taken  how  we  speak  of  the  faults  of 
any,  especially,  rulers.  The  people  of  God 
do  make  the  word  of  God  their  rule,  and  by 
that  they  are  taught,  that  magistracy  is  God's 
ordinance,  and  magistrates  God's  ministers; 
that  by  him  kings  reign,  and  the  powers  that 
be  are  ordained  of  him:  that  they,  as  well  as 
others,  are  to  have  their  dues,  honour,  fear, 
and  tribute;  that  their  lawful  commands  are 
12 


130 


LIFE  OF  THE 


to  be  obeyed,  and  that  readily  and  cheer- 
fully: that  the  penalties  for  not  obeying  un- 
lawful commands,  are  patiently  to  be  under- 
gone. This  is  the  rule,  and  as  many  as  walk 
according  to  this  rule,  peace  shall  be  upon 
them,  and  there  is  no  danger  of  their  un- 
peaceableness.  They  are  taught  to  pray 
for  kings  and  all  that  are  in  authority — and 
God  forbid  that  we  should  do  otherwise;  yea 
though  they  persecute.  Peaceable  prayers 
bespeak  a  peaceable  people.  If  some  pro- 
fessing religion  have  been  unquiet,  their  un- 
quietness  hath  given  the  lie  to  their  profes- 
sion. Quietness  is  our  badge.  'Twill  be 
our  strength — our  rejoicing  in  the  day  of  evil. 
It  is  pleasing  to  God — it  may  work  upon 
others.  The  means  for  keeping  our  hearts 
quiet,  is  to  get  them  filled  with  the  knowledge 
of  these  two  things,  1.  That  the  kingdom  of 
Christ  is  not  of  this  world.  2.  That  the 
wrath  of  man  worketh  not  the  righteousness 
of  God.  He  needs  not  our  sin  to  bring  to 
pass  his  own  counsel.  We  must  mortify 
unquietness  in  the  causes  of  it.  We  must 
always  remember  the  oath  of  God;  the  oath 
of  allegiance  is  an  oath  of  quietness.  And 
we  must  beware  of  the  company  and  con- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRT. 


131 


versation  of  those  that  are  unquiet.  Though 
deceitful  matters  be  devised,  vre  must  be 
quiet  still;  nay,  be  so  much  the  more  quiet." 
Every  sentence  of  the  above  is  supported  by 
a  reference  to  a  Scripture  text.  The  pas- 
sages referred  to  are,  2  Pet.  ii.  10;  Jude  S; 
Exod.  xxii.  28;  Acts  xxiii.  5 :  2  Sam.  xv.  3; 
Eccles.  X.  20;  Titus  iii.  1:  1  Tim.  iii.  1,  2; 
Jer.  xxix.  7;  Psal.  cix.  4;  Jude  ii.  12;  Col. 
iii.  12;  Isa.  xxx.  7.  15;  Jer.  xviii.  IS;  I 
Pet.  ii.  12,  13;  James  iv.  1;  Eccles.  viii.  2. 

In  1663,  ^Ir.  Henry  returned  again  with 
his  family  from  Whitchurch  to  Broad  Oak, 
which  continued  to  be  his  settled  home,  till 
he  was  removed  to  his  long  home,  about 
twenty-eight  years  after  this  time. 

The  rigour  of  the  five-mile  act  began  now 
to  abate,  and  more  opportunity  was  enjoyed 
fordoing  good,  than  before, which  Mr.  Hen- 
ry endeavoured  to  improve  to  the  utmost; 
especially  in  instructing  the  ignorant,  help- 
ing on  their  way  to  heaven  such  as  needed 
his  aid. 

In  the  beginning  of  his  account  book,  he 
placed  that  text.  Prov.  iii.  9,  10,  "Honour 
the  Lord  with  thy  substance,  and  with  the 
first  fruits  of  all  thine  increase ;  so  shall  thy 


132 


LIFE  OP  THE 


barns  be  filled  with  plenty;  and  thy  presses 
shall  burst  out  with  new  wine."  And  he 
not  only  wrote  it  down  but  practised  it.  After 
his  return,  he  kept  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer,  to  beg  of  God,  a  wise  and  under- 
standing heart,  and  to  drop  a  tear — as  he  ex- 
pressed it — over  the  sins  of  his  predecessors, 
formerly  in  that  estate.  He  laid  himself  out 
very  much  in  doing  good;  and  was  in  many 
ways  serviceable  to  his  neighbourhood.  He 
was  very  useful  in  the  common  concerns 
of  the  township  and  country,  in  which 
he  was  a  very  prudent  counsellor.  And  al- 
though an  humble  service  for  a  man  of  his 
office  and  gifts,  "  Yet  men  gave  ear  and 
waited, and  kept  silence  at  his  counsel:  after 
his  words  they  spake  not  again,"  Job  xxix. 
21.  Many,  who  respected  him  not  as  a  min- 
ister, loved  and  honoured  him  as  a  knowing, 
prudent,  and  humble  neighbour.  References 
were  sometimes  made  to  him  ,by  rule  of  court, 
with  consent  of  parties.  He  was  very  afi*a- 
ble  and  easy  of  access,  and  admirably  patient 
in  hearing  every  one's  complaint,  which  he 
would  answer  with  so  much  prudence  and 
mildness,  and  gave  such  apt  advice,  that 
many  a  time  to  consult  with  him,  was  to 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


133 


end  the  matter.  He  observed  that  in  al- 
most all  quarrels,  there  were  faults  on  both 
sides,  and  that  generally  they  were  most  in 
fault,  who  were  most  clamorous  and  for- 
ward. One  making  her  complaint  to  him  of 
a  bad  husband;  unkind  in  this  respect,  and 
the  other;  and  concluded  by  saying;  sir, 
what  would  you  have  me  to  do  ?  He  mild- 
ly answered,  "I  would  have  you  to  go 
home  and  be  a  better  wife  to  him,  and  then 
you'll  find,  that  he'll  be  a  better  husband  to 
you." 

Labouring  with  one  to  forgive  an  injury, 
he  said,  "Are  you  not  a  Christian ?"  and 
urged  this,  until  he  prevailed.  He  often  per- 
suaded people  to  give  up  some  of  their  rights 
for  the  sake  of  peace.  And  would  tell  them 
Luther's  story  of  the  two  goats,  which  met 
on  a  narrow  bridge,  over  a  deep  water. 
They  could  not  go  back,  they  durst  not 
fight ;  but  after  a  short  parley,  one  of  them 
lay  down  and  let  the  other  go  over  him,  and 
no  harm  done.  He  would  also  tell  a  story, 
worthy  of  being  preserved,  of  a  good  friend 
of  his,  Mr.  T.  G.  of  Whitchurch,  who,  in  his 
youth  was  greatly  wTonged  by  an  unjust  un- 
cle of  his,  being  an'  orphan.    His  portion, 


134 


LIFE  OF  THE 


which  was  £200  was  put  into  the  hands  of 
this  uncle;  who  when  he  grew  up  shuffled 
with  him,  and  would  give  hinn  but  forty 
pounds;  and  he  had  no  way  of  recover- 
ing his  right  but  by  law.  But  before  he 
would  engage  in  that  he  resolved  to  consult 
his  minister,  no  other  than  the  celebrated  Dr. 
Twiss,  of  Newbury.  His  advice  was  to 
take  the  £40,  rather  than  go  to  law,  saying, 
"  Thomas,  if  thou  dost  so,  assure  thyself  that 
God  will  make  it  up  to  thee,  and  thine,  some 
other  way;  and  they  that  defraud  thee  will 
be  the  losers  by  it,  at  last."  He  took  the 
advice  and  God  so  prospered  that  little  stock 
with  which  he  began  the  world,  that  when 
he  died,  in  a  good  old  age,  he  left  his  son 
possessed  of  some  hundreds  a  year;  and  he 
that  wronged  him  fell  into  decay. 

Many  very  pious  worthy  families,  in  the 
country,  said  of  Mr.  Henry,  that  they  had 
no  friend,  like  minded,  who  did  naturally 
care  for  their  state,  and  so  affectionately  sym- 
pathize with  them,  and  in  whom  their  hearts 
could  safely  trust. 

He  was  very  charitable  to  the  poor,  and 
full  of  alms-deeds,  which  he  did  himself,  or 
put  up  others  to  do;  and  whenever  he  gave 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


135 


an  alms  for  the  body,  he  accompanied  it  with 
some  good  word  of  counsel,  reproof,  instruc- 
tion, or  comfort;  and  in  accommodating  these 
to  the  persons  addressed  he  had  a  great  dex- 
terity. He  was  very  free  to  lend  money  to 
the  poor;  and  would  say,  there  is  often  more 
charity  in  lending,  than  in  giving,  because  it 
obliged  the  borrower,  both  to  honesty  and 
industry. 

He  deemed  it  lawful  to  take  a  moderate 
interest  for  money  lent,  where  the  borrower 
was  in  the  way  of  gaining  by  it ;  but  he  ad- 
vised his  friends,  that  had  money,  to  dispose 
of  it  rather  in  some  other  way,  if  they  could. 
In  all  his  accounts  with  his  tenants  and  me- 
chanics, he  was  very  exact;  and  in  the  man- 
agement of  his  farm,  neat,  and  orderly; 
which  was  considered  remarkable,  in  one 
brought  up  to  learning,  as  he  was.  While 
he  lived  at  Broad  Oak,  though  necessarily 
engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  which  ren- 
dered considerable  traffic  necessary;  yet  in 
the  whole  time  he  never  sued  any  man;  nor 
was  he  ever  sued  for  money  by  any  one.  His 
rules  about  lawsuits  were,  "  1.  Do  not  go  to 
law  for  trifles.  2.  Be  not  rash  or  hasty  in 
the  matter,  but  try  all  other  methods  first. 


136 


LIFE  OF  THE 


3.  Never  go  to  law  out  of  malice,  or  revenge. 

4.  Let  it  be  with  a  disposition  to  have  peace, 
as  soon  as  possible." 

He  never  approved  the  course  of  those 
professors,  who  on  pretence  of  religion,  ne- 
glect their  worldly  business.  .  And  he  would 
tell  of  a  religious  woman,  who  had  this 
fault,  and  was  convinced  of  her  error,  by- 
means  of  an  intelligent,  godly  neighbour, 
who  coming  to  the  house  when  the  day  was 
far  advanced,  and  finding  the  woman  in  her 
closet,  while  her  children  and  household  af- 
fairs were  neglected,  said  in  a  solemn  tone, 
"What,  is  there  no  fear  of  God  in  this 
house  ?"  which  much  startled  and  affected 
the  good  woman,  who  overheard  him.  He 
would  often  say,  "  every  thing  is  beautiful 
in  its  season."  And  that  it  is  the  wisdom  of 
the  prudent,  so  to  order  the  duties  of  their 
general  callings  as  Christians,  and  those  of 
their  particular  calling  in  the  world,  so  as 
that  they  may  not  clash  or  interfere.  "  There 
may  be  overdoing,  in  well  doing." 

When  asked  to  be  security  for  one  who 
had  been  security  for  him,  he  said,  "  Solo- 
mon saith,  that  he  that  hateth  suretiship  is 
sure."    But  he  saith  also,  "He  that  hath 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


137 


friends  must  show  himself  friendly. But 
he  always  cautioned  his  friends  not  to  be 
bound  for  any  more  than  they  knew  that 
they  were  able  to  pay;  nor  for  more  than 
they  would  be  willing  to  pay,  if  the  princi- 
pal failed. 

He  was  pleased  that  his  house,  at  Broad 
Oak,  was  near  the  road,  because  it  occasion- 
ed the  more  frequent  calls  of  his  friends,  and 
gave  him  an  opportunity  of  showing  kind- 
ness to  strangers,  and  to  help  such  as  were 
any  way  distressed  on  the  road  ;  for  he  was, 
on  all  occasions,  cheerfully  ready  to  relieve 
his  distressed  fellow  creatures;  fully  answer- 
ing the  apostle^s  character  of  a  bishop,  '-that 
he  must  be  of  good  behaviour,  decent,  affa- 
ble, obliging,  and  given  to  hospitality.''  Like 
Abraham,  who  sat  at  his  tent  door  in  quest 
of  opportunities  to  do  good.  If  he  met  with 
any  poor  near  his  house  he  gave  them  alms 
in  money,  yet  he  would  bid  them  go  to 
his  door  besides,  for  relief  there.  He  v.-as 
very  tender  and  compassionate  towards  poor 
strangers,  and  travellers;  though,  as  might 
be  expected,  his  charity  was  often  imposed 
on  by  cheats  and  pretenders,  of  whom  he 
was  not  apt  to  be  suspicious;  but  would  say, 


138 


LIFE  OF  THE 


"  Thou  knowest  not  the  heart  of  a  stranger." 
If  he  met  with  any  begging,  whom  he 
thought  did  wrong  in  pursuing  this  course, 
after  giving  an  aims,  he  would  kindly  re- 
prove them,  and  exhort  them  to  pursue 
honest  industry  for  a  hving;  otherwise  they 
could  not  expect  God  to  bless  them.  But  he 
would  not  chide  them,  but  reason  with  them. 
For  he  would  say,  if  he  reproved  them  and 
gave  them  nothing,  it  would  look  only  like 
an  excuse  to  deny  his  charity;  and  his  re- 
proof would  be  sure  to  be  rejected. 

In  a  word,  his  greatest  care  about  the 
things  of  this  world  was  to  do  good  with 
what  he  had,  and  to  devise  liberal  things; 
desiring  to  make  no  other  accession  to  his 
estate,  than  that  blessing  which  attends  be- 
neficence. He  firmly  believed,  that  what 
was  given  to  the  poor  is  lent  to  the  Lord, 
•who  will  pay  it  again  in  kind,  or  kindness; 
and  that  religion  and  charity  is  surely  the 
best  friend  to  outward  prosperity.  He  found 
it  so  in  his  own  experience,  for  it  pleased 
God  abundantly  to  bless  his  habitation,  and 
to  make  a  hedge  about  him,  and  about  all 
that  he  had  round  about.  And  though  he 
did  not  delight  himself  in  the  abundance  of 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY.  139 

wealth,  yet,  which  is  far  better,  he  delighted 
himself  in  the  abundance  of  peace.  All  that 
he  had  and  did,  observably  prospered;  so 
that  it  was  noticed  by  all  around,  and  people 
would  say,  "  This  is  a  family  which  the 
Lord  has  blessed.'^  And  his  comforts,  of 
this  kind,  were  as  he  used  to  pray  they 
might  be — oil  to  the  wheels  of  his  obedience. 
And  in  these  things  he  served  the  Lord  his 
God  with  joyfulness  and  gladness  of  heart; 
yet  still  mindful  of,  and  grieved  for  the  afflic- 
tion of  Joseph.  When  in  the  midst  of  the 
comforts  of  this  life,  he  would  say,  some- 
times, "  What !  all  this,  and  heaven  too !  then 
surely  we  serve  a  good  Master."  Thus  did 
the  Lord  bless  him,  and  make  him  a  bless- 
ing; and  this  abundant  grace,  through  the 
thanksgiving  of  many,  redounded  to  the  glory 
of  God. 

During  his  residence  at  Broad  Oak,  Mr. 
Henry,  as  has  been  said,  regularly  attended 
the  church  with  his  family  ;  was  always  pre- 
sent when  the  service  commenced,  and  re- 
mained until  it  was  ended;  and  if  there  was 
a  baptism,  he  waited  for  this  also,  but  not  for 
a  wedding,  for  he  disapproved  of  this  on  the 


140 


LIFE  OP  THE 


Lord's  day.  He  often  invited  the  preacher 
to  dinner;  and  after  dinner  he  was  accustom- 
ed to  sing  a  hymn,  and  then  preach  to  his 
own  family,  when  two  or  three  others  would 
drop  in ;  and  many  an  excellent  sermon  he 
preached,  when  there  were  only  four  pre- 
sent, besides  his  family,  according  to  the  limi- 
tation of  the  conventicle  act.  In  these  nar- 
row circumstances,  he  preached  over  the  first 
part  of  the  Assembly's  Catechism,  from  di- 
vers texts.  He  also  preached  over  the  116th 
Psalm,  besides  many  particular,  occasional 
subjects. 

He  commonly  had  in  his  house  one  or 
more  young  scholars,  preparing  for  the  uni- 
versity. The  first  of  these  was  Mr.  William 
Turner,  afterwards  of  Edmund's  Hall,  Ox- 
ford, to  whom  the  world  is  indebted  for  the 
elaborate  "History  of  all  Religions,"  edited 
in  the  year  1695;  and  the  "Record  of  the 
remarkable  Providences  of  God."  Between 
him  and  Mr.  Henry  there  existed  a  most 
entire  and  affectionate  friendship;  and  an 
endearing  and  constant  correspondence.  It 
was  remarked,  that  several  of  the  young 
men  who  lived  in  his  house,  died,  soon  after 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


141 


leaving  him;  as  if  God  had  sent  them  there, 
to  be  prepared  for  another  world,  before 
they  were  called  for  out  of  this. 

For  a  long  time  he  entertained  so  high  an 
opinion  of  the  advantages  of  the  universities, 
as  places  of  education,  that  he  advised  all  his 
friends  to  send  their  sons,  although  he  knew 
that  conformity  would  be  the  consequence. 
But  he  afterwards  changed  his  opinion,  and 
would  not  send  his  own  son,  but  chose  ra- 
ther to  keep  him  at  home  with  him,  and  to 
give  him  what  help  he  could  there,  in  his 
education,  than  venture  him  into  the  snares 
and  temptations  of  the  university. 

Soon  after  his  settlement  at  Broad  Oak,  he 
formed  an  acquaintance  with  that  learned, 
judicious,  and  pious  gentleman,  Mr.  Hunt, 
and  with  his  excellent  lady,  Frances,  daugh- 
ter of  the  right  honourable  Lord  Paget, 
which  soon  ripened  into  an  intimate  friend- 
ship, which  continued,  without  interruption, 
until  his  dying  day.  It  was  a  constant  re- 
joicing to  him,  to  see  religion  and  the  power 
of  godliness  uppermost  in  such  a  family  as 
that,  when  not  many  mighty  and  not  many 
noble  are  called.  Divers  of  the  honourable 
relations  of  that  family  contracted  a  very 


142 


LIFE  OF  THE 


great  respect  for  him,  particularly,  tVie  pre- 
sent Lord  Paget,  his  majesty's  ambassador 
at  the  Ottoman  court,  and  Sir  Henry  Ash- 
urst,  of  whom  mention  will  be  made  in  the 
sequel. 

Two  remarks  from  his  diary  shall  close 
this  chapter,  which  ^v\\\  show  what  manner 
fl  of  spirit  he  was  of,  and  what  were  his  senti- 
ments of  things  at  that  time.    The  first  is, 

All  acknowledge  that  there  is,  at  this  day, 
a  number  of  sober,  peaceable  men,  both 
ministers  and  people,  among  dissenters;  but 
who  saith  or  doth  any  thing  to  oblige  them? 
Who  desireth,  or  endeavoureth  to  open  the 
door  to  let  in  such?  Nay,  do  they  not  rather 
provoke  them  to  run  into  the  same  extrava- 
gancies with  others,  by  making  no  difterence, 
but  laying  a  load  on  them,  as  if  they  were 
as  bad  as  the  worst.''  'Tis  true,  that  Lord 
Keeper  Bridgeman,  Bishop  Wilkins,  and 
Chief  Justice  Hale,  were  making  some  over- 
tures for  an  accommodation  with  them,  but 
this  only  served  to  exasperate  their  adversa- 
ries the  more;  and  the  event  was  greater 
acts  of  severity. 

Another  is  this,  "  If  all  that  has  been  said 
and  written  to  prove  prelacy  to  be  anti- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


143 


Christian,  and  that  it  is  unlawful  to  join  in 
the  common  prayer,  had  been  said  effectual- 
ly to  persuade  bishops  to  study,  and  do  the 
duty  of  church  rulers,  in  preaching,  and  feed- 
ing the  flock,  according  to  the  word,  and  to 
persuade  people  to  be  spiritual  in  the  use  of 
forms,  it  had  been  better  with  the  church  of 
God  in  England,  than  it  now  is."  Conso- 
nant to  this,  was  a  remark  which  he  often 
made,  and  took  occasion  to  mention,  as  his 
settled  principle,  viz.  "  In  those  things  where 
all  the  people  of  God  are  agreed,  I  will  spend 
my  zeal;  and  wherein  they  differ,  I  will  en- 
deavour to  walk  according  to  the  light  which 
God  hath  given  me,  and  charitably  believe 
that  others  do  so  too.'^ 


CHAPTER  VI. 

From  the  year  1672  to  1680. 

As  was  mentioned,  there  was  some  relaxa- 
tion in  the  execution  of  the  severe  act  against 
conventicles;  so  that,  in  some  places,  the 
non-conformists  ventured  to  set  up  meetings 


144 


LIFE  OF  THE 


for  religious  conference  and  worship;  but  it 
was  not  until  the  early  part  of  the  year  1672, 
that  they  received  indulgence  by  the  royal 
declaration.  What  the  secret  springs  were 
which  produced  this  indulgence,  time  suffi- 
ciently revealed;  however,  to  the  poor,  dis- 
tressed dissenters,  it  was  as  life  from  the 
dead,  and  gave  them  some  reviving  in  their 
bondage.  It  never  should  be  said,  that  those 
people  were  hard  to  be  pleased,  who  were 
so  much  rejoiced  at  this  httle  breathing  spell, 
precarious  as  it  was.  The  purport  of  the 
king's  declaration  was,  that,  "  in  considera- 
tion of  the  inefficacy  of  rigour,  tried  for 
divers  years,  and  to  invite  strangers  into  the 
kingdom,  it  suspended  the  penal  laws  against 
all  non-conformists  and  recusants;  promised 
to  license  separate  places  for  meetings;  limit- 
ing papists  only  to  private  houses." 

In  regard  to  this  liberty,  Mr.  Henry  re- 
marks, "That  the  conformists  were  dis- 
pleased; the  Presbyterians  were  glad;  the 
Independents  very  glad,  and  the  Papists 
triumphed."  He  was  afraid  that  it  would 
tend  to  sow  divisions,  and  break  up  parish- 
order.  "  We  are  hereby,"  said  he,  "  put  into 
a  trilemma;  either  to  turn  Independents,  in 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


145 


practice,  to  strike  in  with  the  conformists; 
or  to  sit  down  in  former  silence  and  suffer- 
ings, till  the  Lord  shall  open  a  more  effectual 
door.''  What  he  desired  was,  "  That  those 
who  were  in  place  would  permit  the  sober 
non-conformists  to  preach  occasionally  in 
their  pulpits;  by  which  means  he  thought 
prejudices  would  in  time  wear  off,  on  both 
sides;  and  they  might  constantly  strengthen 
each  other's  hands  against  the  papists,  who, 
he  foresaw,  would  fish  best  in  troubled  wa- 
ters. This  he  would  have  chosen  much  ra- 
ther than  keeping  a  separate  meeting.  But 
such  a  privilege  could  not  be  had;  for  he 
was  never  allowed  to  preach  in  Whitwell 
chapel,  even  when  it  was  vacant. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  declaration,  he  re- 
ceived a  license  like  Paul,  to  preach  in  his 
own  house,  to  all  that  came  to  him,  no  man 
forbidding  him.  But  he  was  still  so  much 
opposed  to  division,  that  he  would  not  preach 
when  there  was  public  service  in  the  church, 
and  held  meeting  in  his  own  house  only  in 
the  evening.  He  now  preached  and  ex- 
pounded, and  united  with  the  people  in 
prayer  and  praise.  But  his  services  were 
entirely  gratuitous;  he  asked  nothing  and  re- 
13 


146 


LIFE  or  THfi 


ceived  nothing  for  his  labours  of  love.  And 
not  only  so,  but  as  worshippers  came  often 
from  a  distance,  it  subjected  him  to  a  consi- 
derable expense,  in  providing  entertainment 
for  his  friends.  But  this  he  never  grudged. 
His  saying  on  such  occasions  was,  "That 
the  ark  is  a  guest  that  always  pays  well  for 
its  entertainment."  And  he  remarked,  "  that 
when  Christ  borrowed  Peter's  boat,  to  preach 
a  sermon  out  of  it,  he  presently  repaid  him 
for  the  same,  with  a  great  draught  of  fishes. 
Luke  v.  3,  4. 

Although  he  had  many  thoughts  about  ac- 
cepting this  indulgence;  yet  after  a  while  his 
judgment  was  clear,  that  he  ought  to  make 
use  of  it,  and  accordingly,  while  it  lasted, 
he  was  "in  labours  more  abundant."  He 
preached  many  lectures  abroad,  in  Cheshire, 
Denbighshire,  and  Shropshire,  laying  him- 
self out  exceedingly  for  the  good  of  souls — 
spending  and  being  spent  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord.  And  his  labours  were  not  in  vain  in 
the  Lord ;  for  it  might  be  said  of  this  man 
and  that  man,  that  he  was  born  again,  then 
and  there.  And  many  there  were,  who 
asked  the  way  to  Zion,  wuh  their  faces 
thitherwards,  and  were  savingly  brought 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


147 


home  to  Jesus  Christ:  that  is,  such  as  had 
been  vain  and  careless,  and  worldly,  and  re- 
gardless of  God  and  another  world,  became 
sober  and  serious,  and  concerned  about  their 
souls,  and  a  future  state. 

Whatever  lectures  were  set  up  in  the 
country  round,  it  Avas  still  desired,  that  Mr. 
Henry  would  begin  them:  and  very  happy 
he  was,  both  in  the  choice  and  management 
of  his  subjects,  on  such  occasions.  Take  one 
specimen,  from  a  discourse  on  Heb.  xii.  15. 
"I  assure  you,"  says  he,  "  and  God  is  my 
witness,  that  I  have  not  come  to  preach, 
either  sedition  against  the  state,  or  schism 
against  the  peace  of  the  church,  by  persuad- 
ing you  to  this  or  that  party,  or  opinion ;  but 
as  a  mir)ister  of  Christ  that  hath  received 
mercy  from  the  Lord,  to  desire  to  be  faithful, 
my  errand  is  to  exhort  you  to  all  possible 
seriousness,  in  the  great  business  of  your 
eternal  salvation,  according  to  my  text,  which 
if  the  Lord  will  make  as  profitable  to  you 
as  it  is  of  weight  in  itself,  neither  I  nor 
you  shall  have  cause  to  repent  my  coming 
hither,  and  being  here  to  day,  looking  dili- 
gently lest  any  of  you  fail  of  the  grace  of 
God.    If  it  were  the  last  sermon  I  were  to 


148 


LIFE  OF  THE 


preach,  I  should  not  know  how  to  take  my 
aim  better,  to  do  you  good.'^ 

His  heart  was  wonderfully  enlarged  about 
this  time.  The  fields  were  white  ready  to 
the  harvest;  and  he  was  busy,  and  God  did 
remarkably  own  him,  setting  many  seals  to 
his  ministry,  which  much  confirmed  him  in 
the  course  which  he  had  been  led  to  pursue. 

In  his  diary,  for  March  1673,  he  has  the  fol- 
lowing memento,  "  Remember  that  if  trouble 
should  come  for  what  we  now  do  in  the  use  of 
present  liberty,  I  neither  shrink  from  it,  nor 
sink  under  it;  for  I  do  therein  approve  my- 
self to  God,  and  to  my  own  conscience,  in 
truth  and  uprightness;  and  the  Lord  whom 
I  serve,  can,  and  will  certainly  bear  me  out, 
and  bring  me  oif  with  comfort  in  the  end." 

At  the  commencement  of  this  liberty,  the 
society  of  Broad  Oak  was  formed  out  of  per- 
sons who  had  belonged  to  several  contiguous 
parishes.  To  these  hungry  souls  he  admin- 
istered the  bread  of  life,  but  would  not  suffer 
himself  to  be  called  their  pastor;  but  being  a 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ,  he  thought  himself 
bound  to  preach  the  gospel  as  he  had  oppor- 
tunity. Usually,  once  a  month,  he  adminis- 
tered the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY.  149 

Some  of  those  communion  days  are  noted  in 
his  diary,  as  "sweet,  seahng  days,  in  which 
he  found  it  good  to  draw  near  to  God." 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year,  there  was 
a  general  expectation  of  the  cancelling  of  the 
indulgence,  on  which,  on  a  previous  Sabbath 
and  sacrament  day^  he  remarks.  "  Perhaps 
this  may  be  the  last;  *  Father,  thy  will  be 
done.'  It  is  good  for  us  to  be  at  such  uncer- 
tainties; for  now  we  receive  our  liberty  from 
our  Father,  fresh,  every  day,  which  is  best 
and  sweetest  of  all." 

In  the  years,  1677,  1678,  and  1679,  in  the 
course  of  his  ministry,  at  Broad  Oak,  he 
preached  over  the  ten  commandments ;  and 
from  other  texts  of  Scripture  largely  opened 
the  duties  required,  and  sins  forbidden,  in 
each  commandment.  For  although  none 
delighted  more  than  he  in  preaching  Christ 
and  gospel  grace;  yet  he  knew  that  Christ 
came  not  to  destroy  the  law  and  the  pro- 
phets, but  to  fulfil;  and  that  though  through 
grace,  we  are  not  under  the  law  as  a  cove- 
nant, yet  we  are  under  it  as  a  rule — "  under 
the  law  to  Christ."  "We  have  known," 
says  he,  "  those  who  have  called  preaching 
on  such  subjects,  good  moral  preaching;  but 


150 


LIFE  OF  THE 


let  them  call  it  as  they  will,  I  am  sure  it  is 
necessary,  and  as  much  now  as  ever."  He 
was  very  earnest  in  pressing  upon  the  peo- 
people,  the  conscientious  performance  of 
moral  and  relative  duties.  He  would  say, 
"  A  good  Christian  will  be  a  good  husband, 
a  good  father,  a  good  master,  a  good  sub- 
ject, a  good  neighbour,  and  so  in  other  rela- 
tions." He  was  fully  persuaded  of  the  truth 
of  the  proverb,  "  Honesty  is  the  best  policy." 
"  These  are  things,"  he  would  say, "  in  which 
the  children  of  this  world  are  competent 
judges.  They  that  know  not  what  belongs 
to  faith,  and  repentance  and  prayer,  yet  know 
what  belongs  to  the  making  of  an  honest  bar- 
gain." They  are  also  parties  concerned,  and 
often  careful  themselves,  in  these  things; 
therefore,  professors  of  religion  should  walk 
very  circumspectly,  "that  the  name  of  God  and 
his  doctrine  be  not  blasphemed,"  nor  rehgion 
wounded  through  their  sides.  He  was  espe- 
cially pointed  in  reproving  sins  against  the 
ninth  commandment,  as  being  so  common, 
and  their  evil  so  little  thought  of.  He  gave 
it  as  a  rule,  "  If  we  can  say  no  good  of  per- 
sons, we  had  better  say  nothing  of  them." 
Also,  "  Never  to  speak  of  any  one's  faults 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


151 


to  others,  till  we  have  first  spoken  of  them  to 
the  offender  himself."  He  was  himself  an 
eminent  example  of  this  rule.  Some  that 
have  conversed  much  with  him  have  said, 
that  they  never  heard  him  speak  evil  of  any 
body  ;  nor  could  he  bear  to  hear  any  spoken 
evil  of,  and  would  often  drive  away  a  back- 
biting tongue.  But  to  offenders  themselves, 
he  was  known  to  be  a  faithful  reprover. 
When  he  preached  of  moral  duties,  he  would 
always  have  something  of  Christ  in  the  ser- 
vice, as  the  great  pattern  of  the  duty,  or  his 
love  as  the  motive  to  it;  or  his  merit,  as  mak- 
ing atonement  for  the  neglect  of  it.  In  the 
year  1680,  he  preached  over  the  doctrines 
of  faith  and  repentance,  from  several  texts. 
He  used  to  tell,  that  it  was  said  of  the  famous 
Mr.  Dod,  that  some  called  him  in  scorn, 
Faith  and  Repentance,  because  he  insist- 
ed so  much  on  these  two,  in  his  preaching. 
"But,-'  said  he,  '^if  this  is  to  be  vile,  I  will 
be  more  vile  still ;  for  faith  and  repentance 
are  all  in  all,  in  Christianity.''  Concerning 
repentance,  he  sometimes  said,  "  If  I  were  to 
die  in  the  pulpit,  I  would  desire  to  die 
preaching  repentance ;  or  if  I  die  out  of  the 


152 


LIFE  OP  THE 


pulpit,  I  would  desire  to  die,  practising  re- 
pentance.'^ And  he  often  came  over  this 
saying,  "  He  who  repents  every  day  for  the 
sins  of  every  day,  when  he  comes  to  die,  will 
have  but  the  sins  of  one  day  to  repent  of/' 
"Even  reckonings  make  long  friends." 

In  the  year  1681,  Mr.  Henry  preached 
over  the  duties  of  hearing  the  word  and 
prayer.  Of  the  former  from  the  parable  of 
the  sower ;  and  on  the  Lord's  prayer,  he  de- 
livered above  thirty  excellent  and  elaborate 
discourses.  He  looked  upon  the  Lord's  pray- 
er, to  be  not  only  a  pattern  for  prayer  but — 
according  to  the  advice  of  the  Assembly  of 
Divines — proper  to  be  used  as  a  form.  "A 
great  strait,"  says  he,  "poor  ministers  are  in, 
in  relation  to  this  matter,  when  some  will  not 
hear  them  if  they  do  not  use  the  Lord's  pray- 
er, and  others  will  not  hear  them,  if  they  do. 
What  is  to  be  done  in  such  a  case  ?  We 
must  walk  according  to  the  light  we  have, 
and  approve  ourselves  to  God,  either  in  using 
or  not  using  it ;  and  wait  for  the  day  when 
God  will  mend  the  matter,  which  I  hope  he 
will  do  in  his  own  due  time." 

He  was  just  concluding  his  lectures  on  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


153 


Lord's  prayer  when  a  dark  cloud  arose  over 
his  assemblies,  which  compelled  him  to  con- 
tract his  sails. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  trials  and  persecutions  which  he  endured  between 
the  years  1680  and  1687. 

In  the  summer  of  1681,  there  was  a  long  and 
alarming  drought,  which  induced  many  pious 
persons  to  think  of  a  day  of  fasting,  prayer, 
and  humihation,  to  supplicate  relief,  and  to 
deprecate  the  righteous  judgments  of  God. 
The  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  a  pri- 
vate gentleman,  in  Shropshire, and  Mr.  Henry 
was  invited  to  preach.  From  the  indulgence 
which  had  been  granted,  for  some  time,  no 
fears  were  entertained  of  the  interference  of 
the  magistrates,  to  enforce  the  penal  lav/s,. 
against  conventicles.  But  when  Mr.  Henry 
was  in  the  m.idst  of  his  sermon,  founded  on 
Psalm  Ixvi.  S,  the  congregation  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  entrance  of  two  magistrates,, 
who  insulted  the  ministers,  talked  profanely, 
14 


154 


LIFE  OP  THE 


and  had  the  names  of  the  congregation  taken 
down,  to  the  number  of  a  hundred  and  fifty. 
These  magistrates,  it  may  be  remarked, 
came  directly  from  an  ale-house  and  bowl- 
ing-green, in  the  neighbourhood,  where  they 
were  accustomed  to  resort  for  purposes  of 
dissipation  and  intemperance.  Fines  were 
inflicted  on  ministers  and  people  according 
to  their  notions  of  their  criminaUty :  but  they 
were  not  very  careful  to  go  exactly  by  the 
law.  Mr.  Henry,  however,  being  the  chief 
offender,  and  able  to  pay,  they  fined  £40. 
They  also  lodged  an  information  against  him 
\  before  the  justices  of  Flintshire,  his  own 
county,  who  had  not  been  disposed  to  give 
him  any  trouble ;  but  now  they  were  obliged 
to  act  in  the  case;  and  the  original  fine 
was  doubled.  It  was  much  pressed  upon 
him  to  pay  the  fine  and  prevent  further  vex- 
ation; but  he  was  unwilling  to  do  it,  partly, 
because  he  would  give  no  encouragement  to 
such  prosecutions,  nor  reward  the  informers 
for  that  for  which  they  rather  deserved  pun- 
ishment; and  partly  because  he  thought  him- 
self wronged  in  the  doubling  of  the  fine;  his 
goods  were  therefore  distrained  upon,  and 
carrried  away.  The  law  not  permitting  them 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


155 


to  break  locks,  or  enter  into  the  apartments 
of  the  house,  they  seized  such  produce  of  the 
farm  as  they  could  lay  their  hands  on,  out  of 
doors;  such  as  cut  grain,  hay,  coals,  &c.  to 
the  amount  of  thirty-three  cart  loads  of  goods. 
This  made  a  great  noise  in  the  country,  and 
provoked  the  indignation  of  many  against 
the  unrighteous  decrees,  which  prescribed 
such  grievous  proceedings  against  peaceable 
citizens,  for  no  other  offence  than  attempting, 
by  united  prayer,  to  avert  the  heavy  judg- 
ments of  heaven,  under  which  the  people 
were  suffering.    Mr.  Henry  bore  it  with  his 
usual  evenness  of  mind.    His  serenity  was 
not  in  the  least  disturbed  by  the  event.  But 
he  never  clamoured  about  his  sufferings,  nor 
made  a  boast  of  them;  but  would  say, 
"  Alas  this  is  nothing  to  what  others  suffer, 
nor  to  what  we  ourselves  may  suffer  before 
we  die."    He  did  rejoice,  however,  that  it 
was  not  for  crime  or  ill-doing  that  he  suffer- 
ed, and  his  remark  was,  "While  it  is  for  well 
doing  that  we  suffer,  they  cannot  harm  us." 
In  his  diary  he  writes,  "  How  often  have  we 
said  that  changes  are  at  the  door;  but  blessed 
be  God,  there  is  no  sting  in  this."    He  enter- 
tained a  full  assurance  that  all  these  losses 


156 


LIFE  OF  THE 


would  be  more  than  made  up  to  him.  His 
maxim  was,  Though  we  may  be  losers  for 
Christ,  yet  we  shall  not  be  losers  by  him,  in 
the  end."  And  he  often  said,  that preach- 
ing was  likely  to  do  the  most  good,  when  it 
was  sealed  to  by  suffering.'' 

The  case  of  Mr.  Bury,  one  of  the  minis- 
ters present  at  this  meeting,  was  truly  hard, 
and  suited  to  excite  compassion  and  indig- 
nation, at  the  same  time.  The  Conventicle 
Act  makes  it  only  punishable  to  preach  or 
teach  in  such  meetings;  but  he  only  prayed; 
and  yet  he  was  fined  in  the  sum  of  twenty 
pounds;  which,  being  poor,  he  was  utterly 
unable  to  pay.  They,  therefore,  took  off 
seven  pounds,  and  laid  it  on  others:  and  for 
the  remainder,  they  took  from  him,  by  dis- 
tress, the  bed  on  which  he  lay,  with  both 
blanket  and  rug;  also  another  feather  bed, 
and  nineteen  sheets,  most  of  them  new. 
And  this  man,  though  he  had  violated  no 
law,  and  incurred  no  penalty,  found  no  re- 
dress; so  that  the  good  man  sat  down  with 
his  loss,  "and  took  joyl^uliy  the  spoiling  of 
his  goods,  knowing  in  himself,  that  in  hea- 
ven he  had  a  better  and  more  enduring  sub- 
stance." 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


157 


Though  the  famous  Judge  Jeffries  often 
came  into  that  circuit,  and  on  one  occasion 
received  some  information  calculated  to  im- 
phcate  Mr.  Henry,  yet  for  some  reason,  he 
never  gave  him  any  trouble.  It  was  said 
the  reason  was,  that  Mr.  Henry  was  a  great 
friend  of  his  mother's,  and  sometimes  at  her 
request,  had  examined  him  on  his  school 
learning  when  he  was  a  boy.  The  informa- 
tion lodged  with  the  judge  against  Mr. 
Henry,  was  for  a  thing  which  could  be  con- 
sidered a  transgression  of  no  law,  human  or 
divine.  The  case  was  this,  an  agreement 
had  been  made  by  some  ministers,  to  spend 
some  time  between  six  and  eight  o'clock, 
either  in  their  closets,  or  with  their  families, 
every  Monday  morning,  in  prayer  for  the 
church  of  God,  and  for  the  land  and  na- 
tion, more  particularly  than  at  other  times. 
This  concert  had  been  communicated  to  Mr. 
Henry,  by  some  of  his  friends  at  London, 
and  he  punctually  observed  it  for  many 
years,  in  his  own  practice.  A  person  to 
whom  he  had  communicated  it  was  so  well 
pleased,  that  he  wrote  a  letter  concerning  it, 
to  a  friend  at  a  distance,  which  letter  hap- 
pened to  fall  into  hands  that  perverted  it 


15S 


LIFE  OF  THE 


SO  that  both  the  writer  and  receiver  of  the 
letter  were  bound  over  to  the  assizes;  and 
Judge  Jeffries  beUeved  it  to  be  a  part  of  the 
Presbyterian  plot  against  the  church  and  the 
nation,  and  severely  reprimanded  the  per- 
sons accused.    But  though  it  appeared  by 
the  intercepted  letter,  that  the  plan  had  been 
received  from  Mr.  Henry,  yet  the  judge  let 
it  fall,  and  never  inquired  further  into  the 
affair,  which  was  a  matter  of  astonishment 
to  all  who  knew  him.    However,  at  the 
next  assizes,  after  his  goods  had  been  dis- 
trained upon,  he  was  presented  by  one  of  the 
high  constables  for  holding  conventicles  at 
his  house,  and  for  saying,  "that  the  law  for 
suppressing  conventicles  ought  not  to  be 
obeyed,  and  that  there  was  never  a  tittle  of 
the  word  of  God  in  it.'^    As  to  this  last  pre- 
sentment, it  was  altogether  false.    He  had, 
indeed,  in  conversation  with  the  high  con- 
stable, said,  that  ail  human  laws  ought  not 
to  be  obeyed,  merely  because  they  were 
laws.    He  had  too  much  prudence  to  make 
any  such  remark  on  the  law,  under  which 
he  suffered,  for  he  knew  that  he  had  fallen 
upon  evil  times,  when  so  many  were  made 
offenders  for  a  word. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


159 


In  this  same  year,  1681,  a  public  confer- 
ence was  held  between  Dr.  William  Lloyd, 
bishop  of  Coventry  and  Litchfield,  with 
several  dissenting  ministers,  of  whom  Mr. 
Henry  was  one.  This  learned  bishop,  when 
he  came  into  his  diocese,  thought  it  his  duty 
to  endeavour  to  reduce  the  dissenters  with- 
in his  jurisdiction,  to  obedience  to  the  church; 
and  he  resolved  to  try  the  efficacy  of  reason 
with  them,  before  he  had  recourse  to  any 
harsher  measures.  If  any  dechned  coming 
to  converse  with  him,  he  made  use  of  it  as 
an  argument  against  them,  for  he  alleged, 

that  no  man  can  plead  conscience  for  not 
coming,  when  he  is  required  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  his  religion  to  them  that  have  au- 
thority to  demand  it,  by  the  laws  of  the 
country;  and  to  hear  from  their  mouths, 
what  can  be  said  for  the  established  religion. 
These  things,"  said  he,  "  are  such  as  con- 
science is  so  far  from  excusing  us  for  not  do- 
ing, that  it  requires  them  as  an  indispensa- 
ble duly,  to  give  an  account  of  their  hope,  to 
every  one  that  asketh  a  reason  of  the  same; 
and  that  we  should  hear  them  that  are  in 
Moses's  chair;  and,  therefore,  they  who  re- 


160  LIFE  OF  THE 

fused  this  he  would  consider  as  governed  by 
obstinacy,  not  by  conscience." 

The  most  considerable  dissenting  minister 
in  those  parts  was  Mr.  James  Owen,  of  Os- 
westry, then  very  young,  but  well  known 
since  as  an  author,  by  the  book  entitled,  "  A 
Plea  for  Scripture  Ordination;"  the  object  of 
which  is  to  prove  the  validity  of  ordination 
by  presbyters,  without  a  diocesan  bishop. 
Bishop  Lloyd  had  held  several  private  con- 
ferences with  him:  but  at  length  insisted  on 
a  public  conference,  or  disputation,  in  the 
town  hall  of  Oswestry,  on  Tuesday,  the  27th 
of  September,  16S1;  then  to  give  an  account 
by  what  right  he  exercised  the  ministry,  not 
having  received  episcopal  ordination.  He 
directed  him  also  to  get  what  ministers  he 
could  to  assist  him,  as  he  wished  to  hear 
what  any  of  them  had  to  say  for  themselves. 
Some  whom  Mr.  Owen  invited  to  his  aid, 
declined,  as  believing,  that  more  harm  than 
good  was  likely  to  arise  out  of  it.  Mr. 
Henry,  to  whose  meek  and  modest  spirit, 
such  things  were  very  repugnant,  was  loath 
to  desert  his  young  friend,  Mr.  Owen;  and 
so,  after  much  importunity,  he  resolved  to 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY.  161 

attend;  and  besides  him,  no  one  came,  ex- 
cept Mr.  Jonathan  Roberts,  a  plain  m.an,  of 
great  integrity,  and  a  very  good  scholar. 
The  bishop  came,  according  to  his  appoint- 
ment, and  brought  with  him  Mr.  Henry 
Dodvvell,  afterwards  so  celebrated  in  eccle- 
siastical controversy.  Mr.  Henry,  who  was 
an  entire  stranger  to  the  bishop,  begged  hard 
that  the  controversy  might  be  held  in  pri- 
vate, before  a  select  number  of  friends;  but 
it  could  not  be  obtained.  He  also  requested, 
that  it  might  not  be  expected  that  he,  being 
of  another  diocese,  should  take  any  part  in  the 
controversy,  but  only  as  a  hearer.  "Nay," 
said  the  bishop,  "it  is  not  the  concern  of  my 
diocese  alone,  but  it  is  the  common  cause  of 
reHgion,  and  therefore  I  expect  you  should 
interest  yourself  more  in  it  than  as  a  hearer." 
His  lordship  was  pleased  to  promise  that  no- 
thing spoken  by  way  of  argument,  should 
be  turned  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  dispu- 
tants, nor  should  it  be  the  occasion  of  trou- 
ble to  them.  There  were  present  divers  of 
the  clergy  and  gentry,  of  the  surrounding 
country,  with  the  magistrates  of  the  town,  and 
a  great  multitude  of  people,  which  was  very 
unpleasant  to  Mr.  Henry's  feelings,  who 


162 


LIFE  OF  THE 


never  loved  any  thing  that  made  a  noise. 
The  discourse  began  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  afiernoon,  and  continued  till  about  seven 
or  eight,  at  night.  It  was  managed  with  a 
great  deal  of  liberty,  and  not  under  the  strict 
laws  of  disputation,  which  made  it  hard  to 
give  an  accurate  account  of  the  particulars. 
The  bishop  managed  his  part  of  the  contro- 
versy with  a  great  deal  of  gravity,  calmness, 
and  evenness  of  spirit,  and  therein  gave  an 
excellent  pattern  to  all  that  are  placed  in 
such  stations.  Hr.  Henry's  remarks  in  his 
diary  on  the  management  and  result  of  this 
unsought  for  dispute,  are  humbling  enough. 
'^Upon  reflection,''  says  he  "I  find,  I  have 
great  reason  to  be  ashamed  of  my  manifold 
imperfections  and  infirmities;  and  yet  do 
bless  God,  that  seeing  I  could  manage  it  no 
better,  to  do  the  truth  more  service,  there 
was  no  more  done  to  its  disservice.  To  God 
be  the  glory,"  But  others  thought,  that,  on 
this  occasion,  Mr.  Henry  was  an  instrument 
of  glorifying  God,  and  serving  the  church 
in  this  conference,  as  much,  perhaps,  as  in 
any  thing  that  he  ever  did,  except  preaching 
the  gospel.  And  some  who  were  adversa- 
ries to  the  cause  he  pleaded,  though  not  con- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


163 


vinced  by  his  arguments;  yet  by  his  great 
meekness  and  humility,  and  by  the  excellent 
Christian  spirit  which  he  manifested,  were 
brought  to  entertain  a  better  opinion  of  him, 
and  the  way  in  which  he  walked. 

The  conference  was  broken  off,  rather  ab- 
ruptly, for  while  the  bishop  and  Mr.  Henry 
were  earnestly  engaged  in  an  argument,  Mr. 
Roberts,  whispered  to  INIr.  Henry  to  let  the 
bishop  have  the  last  word,  which  one  of  the 
magistrates  overhearing,  said,  "  You  say  my 
lord  shall  have  the  last  word,  but  he  shall  not, 
for  I  will.  We  thank  God  that  we  have  the 
s^vord  of  power  in  our  own  hands,  and  by  the 
grace  of  God  we  will  keep  it;  and  it  shall 
not  rust;  and  I  hope  every  lawful  magis- 
trate will  do  as  I  do.  And  look  to  your- 
selves, gentlemen,  by  the  grace  of  God,  I'll 
root  you  out  of  the  country.'^  To  which  a 
forward  man  replied,  "Amen,  throw  them 
down  stairs.''  The  bishop  remained  silent; 
but  the  mayor  of  the  town  took  order  foi 
their  safety. 

Two  days  afterwards  the  bishop  v/rote  a 
very  obliging  letter  to  Mr.  Henry,  to  signify 
to  him  how  much  he  was  pleased  with  the 
good  temper  and  spirit  he  found  in  him,  at 


164 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Oswestry;  and  that  he  looked  upon  him  as 
one  that  intended  well  but  laboured  under 
prejudices;  and  to  desire  further  acquain- 
tance and  conversation  with  him;  and  re- 
quested particularly,  that  he  would  come  to 
him  to  Wrexham.  About  three  months  af- 
terwards, he  sent  for  him  again,  to  Chester. 
At  both  of  which  interviews,  they  had  a 
great  deal  of  discourse  with  much  freedom; 
in  which  they  seemed  to  vie  with  each  other, 
in  candour  and  obligingness;  showing  to 
each  other  all  meekness.  The  bishop  even 
condescended  to  show  him  his  plan  for  the 
government  of  his  diocese,  of  which  Mr. 
Henry  expressed  his  approbation,  but  plea- 
santly told  him  to  take  heed  not  to  verify 
again,  Juvenal's  remark: 

"  Dat  veniam  corvis,  vexat  censura  colum- 
bas." 

Pardon  is  given  to  the  crows,  but  ceiisure 
vexes  the  doves. 

The  bishop  smiled  and  said  he  would  take 
care  to  avoid  that.  His  lordship  observing 
his  true  catholic  charity  and  moderation,  told 
him,  if  he  had  him  in  his  diocese,  he  did  not 
question  but  that  he  should  find  out  some  way 
to  make  him  useful.    But  all  his  reasonings 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


165 


could  not  satisfy  Mr.  Henry  of  the  lawfulness 
of  being  re-ordained,  and  conforming  to  the 
established  worship. 

Mr.  Henry  found  it  necessary  again  to 
contract  his  sails  and  confine  himself  very 
much  at  home;  for  although,  in  1682,  the 
dissenters  enjoyed  some  liberty;  yet  in  the 
following  year,  their  meetings  were  gene- 
rally suppressed  throughout  the  kingdom. 
He  continued  his  attendance  at  Whitewell 
Chapel;  and  on  a  certain  day,  when  he  was 
present  the  curate  preached  a  bitter  sermon 
against  the  dissenters,  in  the  morning,  and 
some  people  expressed  their  surprise  that 
Mr.  Henry  would  attend  again  in  the  after- 
noon, to  whom  he  replied,  "If  he  do  not 
know  his  duty,  I  know  mine,  and  I  bless  God, 
I  can  find  honey  in  a  carcase." 

During  this  time  of  treading  down  and  per- 
plexity, he  though  it  best  to  remain  quietly 
at  home;  being  forced — as  he  used  to  ex- 
press it,  "to  throw  the  plough  under  the 
hedge."  At  home  he  preached  constantly, 
without  disturbance,  and  would  say,  "  When 
we  cannot  keep  open  shop,  we  must  drive  a 
secret  trade."  "  There  is,"  he  observed,  "  a 
mean,  if  we  could  put  it  between  foolhardi- 


166 


LIFE  OP  THE 


ness,  and  faint  heartedness."  One  of  his 
friends  in  London  earnestly  solicited  him  to 
make  a  visit  to  that  place,  in  this  time  of  re- 
straint in  the  country.  To  whom  he  thus 
wrote'.  "  I  should  be  glad  once  more  to  kiss 
my  native  soil,  though  it  were  but  with  a 
kiss  of  valediction;  but  my  indisposedness  to 
travel,  and  the  small  prospect  there  is  of 
doing  good  to  countervail  the  pains,  are  my 
prevailing  arguments  against  it.  I  am  here? 
it  is  true,  buried  alive,  but  I  am  quiet  in  my 
grave,  and  have  no  mind  to  be  a  walking 
ghost.  We  rejoice,  and  desire  to  be  thank- 
ful that  God  hath  given  us  a  house  and  con- 
tinued it  to  us,  when  so  many  better  than  we, 
have  not  where  to  lay  their  heads,  ^  having 
no  certain  dwelling  place.'  Why  are  they 
exiles  and  not  we?  [It  was  at  the  disper- 
sion of  the  French  Protestants.]  Why  are 
they  strangers  in  a  strange  land,  and  not  we? 
We  must  not  say,  ^  we  v/ill  die  in  our  nests,' 
lest  God  say,  nay;  our  times  and  all  our 
ways  are  at  his  disposal,  absolutely  and  uni- 
versally ;  and  it  is  very  well  they  are  so." 

When  the  duke  of  Monmouth,  in  1685, 
made  his  descent,  and  the  insurrection  had 
taken  place  in  the  west,  Mr.  Henry  and  many 


REV.  PHILIP  HEJ^RY. 


167 


others  were  apprehended  by  a  warrant  from 
the  deputy  lieutenant,  and  sent  under  a 
guard  to  Chester  Castle;  where  he  was  about 
three  weeks,  a  close  prisoner.  He  was  lodg- 
ed with  some  gentlemen  and  ministers  that 
were  brought  thither  out  of  Lancashire,  who 
were  all  strangers  to  him ;  but  he  had  great 
comfort  in  the  acquaintance  and  society  of 
many  of  them.  He  often  spoke  of  this  im- 
prisonment, not  as  a  matter  of  complaint,  but 
of  thanksgiving,  and  blessed  God  that  he 
was  nothing  uneasy  all  the  while.  In  a  ser- 
mon preached  to  his  family  after  his  return 
home,  he  expressed  himself  in  the  following 
manner,  "  That  his  imprisonment  was  for  no 
cause;  'tis  guilt  that  makes  a  prison.  That 
it  was  his  security  in  a  time  of  danger;  that 
he  had  good  company  in  his  sufferings,  who 
prayed  together,  and  read  the  Scriptures  to- 
gether, and  discoursed  to  their  mutual  edifi- 
cation; that  he  enjoyed  health  there — not 
'sick  and  in  prison;'  that  he  was  visited 
and  prayed  for,  by  his  friends ;  that  he  was 
very  cheerful  and  easy  in  his  spirit ;  many 
a  time  asleep  and  quiet,  when  his  adversa- 
ries were  disturbed  and  unquiet.  That  his 
enlargement  was  speedy  and  unsought  for. 


168 


LIFE  OF  THE 


and  that  it  gave  occasion  to  the  magistrates 
who  committed  him,  to  give  it  under  their 
hands,  that  they  had  nothing,  in  particular, 
to  lay  to  his  charge ;  and  especially,  that  it 
was  without  a  snare,  which  was  the  thing  he 
feared  more  than  any  thing  else." 

It  was  a  surprise  to  some  who  visited  him, 
in  his  imprisonment,  and  were  big  with  the 
expectation  of  the  duke  of  Monmouth's  suc- 
cess, to  hear  him  say,  I  would  not  have 
you  to  flatter  yourselves  with  such  hopes; 
for  God  will  not  do  his  work  for  us,  in 
these  nations,  by  that  man;  but  our  deliver- 
ance and  salvation  will  arise  some  other 
way." 

When  men  became  inimical  to  him,  in- 
stead of  manifesting  proud  resentment,  or  as 
is  usual,  putting  on  a  cold  and  distant  face; 
he  took  special  pains  to  treat  such  with  all 
courtesy  and  kindness.  And  when  a  gentle- 
man who  had  been  very  unfriendly  to  him, 
needed  his  assistance  in  a  law-suit,  though 
he  might  have  declined,  and  it  would  have 
been  for  his  interest  to  do  so;  yet  he  appeared 
as  a  witness  for  him,  which  conduct  so  won 
upon  this  person,  that  he  ever  afterwards  was 
more  friendly  in  his  treatment  of  him.  And 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


169 


when  he  heard  of  the  death  of  one  that  had 
been  his  professed  enemy,  he  said,  "  God 
knows  that  I  have  often  prayed  for  him." 

Some  have  wondered  to  see  how  courte- 
ously he  would  speak  to  such  as  had  injured 
him,  when  he  met  with  them,  being  as  indus- 
trious to  discover  his  forgiving  of  wrongs,  as 
some  are  to  discover  their  resentments  of 
them.    It  was  said  of  archbishop  Cranmer,/ 
that  the  way  to  have  him  for  one's  friend, 
was,  to  do  him  an  unkindness;  and  it  might 
surely  be  said  of  Mr.  Henry,  that  the  doing 
him  an  injury  would  not  make  him  an  ene- 
my.  In  this  he  resembled  his  worthy  friend, 
Mr.  Lawrence,  who  in  company  with  some 
of  his  sons,  passing  by  the  house  of  a  gentle- 
man that  had  been  injurious  towards  him,  he 
gave  a  charge  to  his  sons  that  they  should  nev- 
er think  or  speak  ill  of  that  gentleman,  for  the 
sake  of  any  thing  he  had  done  against  him; 
but  whenever  they  went  by  his  house,  to  lift 
up  their  hearts  in  prayer  to  God  for  him,  and 
his  family.    And  who  is  he  that  will  harm 
those  who  are  thus  followers  of  him  that  is 
good  in  his  goodness. 


15 


170 


LIFE  OF  THE 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  last  nine  years  of  his  life,  when  he  enjoyed  liberty  and 
enlargement  at  Broad  Oak-    From  the  year  1687. 

When  out  of  favour  to  the  Roman  Catholics, 
King  James  II.  gave  a  general  indulgence  to 
all  dissenters,  it  was  a  question  much  agita- 
ted, whether  conscientious  men  could  with 
propriety  avail  themselves  of  this  liberty, 
since  it  was  no  longer  doubtful  what  the  mo- 
tives were  which  induced  the  government  to 
remove  the  restraints  which  had  been  laid 
upon  them.  Mr.  Henry,  after  a  full  consi- 
deration of  the  subject  in  the  light  of  the  ex- 
amples of  the  saints  recorded  in  Scripture, 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  lawful 
and  right  for  him  to  use  the  liberty  granted 
in  preaching  the  gospel.  He  said,  "  what- 
ever men's  ends  are  in  it,  I  believe  God's 
ends  are  to  do  us  good."  Another  maxim 
which  he  applied  to  existing  circumstances 
was,  ^^Duty  is  ours,  events  are  God's."  He 
remembered,  that  the  indulgence  granted  in 
King  Charles'  time  had  been  the  occasion  of 
good;  and  why  might  not  this  do  so  too.^ 
"  Did  Jeremiah  sit  still  in  the  prison  because 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


171 


his  liberty  was  granted  by  the  king  of  Baby- 
lon ?  Did  not  Paul  appeal  to  Caesar,  when 
persecuted  by  his  own  countrymen  for 
preaching  the  gospel,  and  find  more  kindness 
at  Rome,  than  he  did  at  Jerusalem  ?  And 
although  he  believed  that  the  repeal  of  the 
penal  laws  was  intended  to  introduce  popery; 
yet  he  thought  that  there  could  be  no  more 
effectual  barrier  against  popery,  than  the 
powerful  and  faithful  preaching  of  the  gos- 
pel ;  and  the  refusal  of  the  indulgence  by  the 
dissenters  would  have  no  effect  in  preventing 
its  effect  in  favour  of  the  papists.  Commis- 
sioners were  sent  through  the  country  to  as- 
certain the  losses  sustained  by  dissenters,  in 
consequence  of  the  execution  of  the  act  of 
uniformity,  and  the  five  mile,  and  conventi- 
cle acts,  and  they  applied  to  him  to  furnish 
an  account  of  his  damages,  but  he  declined 
giving  any,  saying  that  he  had  long  since  for- 
given those  that  injured  him.  A  commission 
was  also  sent  to  him  to  be  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  office  he  respectfully  declined, 
as  he  felt  himself  to  be  unworthy  of  the  hon- 
our, and  unfit  for  the  office. 

It  was  with  much  fear  and  trembling,  that 
Mr.  Henry  received  the  account  of  the  land- 


172 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ing  of  the  prince  of  Orange,  in  16S8,  as  being 
somewhat  in  the  dark  concerning  the  clear- 
ness of  his  call,  and  dreading  what  might  be 
the  consequence  of  it.  He  used  to  pray, "  Give 
peace  in  our  time,  0  Lord."  But  when  se- 
cret things  were  brought  to  light,  and  a  regu- 
lar course  was  taken  to  fill  the  throne  with 
such  a  king,  and  such  a  queen,  none  rejoiced 
in  it  more  heartily  than  he  did.  He  celebra- 
ted the  national  thanksgiving  with  an  excel- 
lent sermon,  from  Rom.  viii.  31,  "  If  God  be 
for  us,  who  can  be  against  us?" 

Soon  after  the  revolution  was  accom- 
plished, there  was  a  scheme  set  on  foot  to 
comprehend  the  moderate  dissenters,  in  the 
establishment  of  the  church  of  England, 
which  Mr.  Henry  most  earnestly  desired  and 
wished  for,  if  it  could  be  had  on  any  terms 
less  than  sinning  against  his  conscience ;  for 
never  was  any  man  more  averse  to  every 
thing  which  tended  to  separation.  To  pro- 
mote this  desirable  object  his  prayers  and 
endeavours  were  unceasing,  until  it  was 
found  to  be  impracticable.  Despairing,  there- 
fore, to  see  an  accommodation,  he  set  himself 
the  more  vigorously  to  improve  the  present 
liberty.    In  the  year  1689,  the  act  of  tolera- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


173 


tion  was  passed,  which  not  only  allowed  the 
dissenters'  meetings,  but  took  them  under  the 
protection  of  the  government. 

It  may  be  of  use  to  give  some  account  how 
he  managed  his  ministerial  work  in  the  latter 
part  of  his  time,  wherein  he  had  as  signal 
tokens  of  the  presence  of  God  with  him,  as 
ever,  enabling  him  still  to  bring  forth  fruit 
in  an  old  age,  and  to  renew  his  youth  like  the 
eagles.  Though  what  he  did  he  still  did 
gratis  and  would  do  so,  yet  he  was  not  wil- 
ling to  have  any  constant  assistant,  nor  had 
he  any;  so  much  was  he  in  his  element,  when 
he  was  about  his  Master's  work:  'twas  his 
meat  and  drink  to  do  it. 

1.  As  to  his  constant  Sabbath  work,  he 
was  uniform  and  abundant  in  it.  He  began 
his  morning  family  worship  on  Lord's  days, 
at  eight  o'clock,  when  he  read  and  expound- 
ed pretty  largely,  sung  a  psalm  and  prayed; 
and  many  strove  to  come  time  enough  to 
join  with  him  in  that  service.  He  began  in 
public  just  at  nine  o'clock  winter  and  sum- 
mer. His  meeting  place  ^vas  an  out-build- 
ing of  his  own,  near  adjoining  to  his  house, 
fitted  up  very  decently  and  conveniently  for 
the  purpose.    He  begun  with  prayer,  then 


174 


LIFE  OF  THE 


he  snng  Psal.  c.  without  reading  the  line : 
next  he  read  and  exponnded  a  chapter  in  the 
Old  Testament  in  the  morning,  and  in  the 
New  Testament  in  the  afternoon.  He  look- 
ed upon  the  public  reading  of  the  Scriptures 
in  religious  assemblies  to  be  an  ordinance  of 
God.  and  that  it  tended  very  much  to  the  edi- 
fication of  people  by  that  ordinance,  to  have 
what  is  read  expounded  to  them.  The  bare 
reading  of  the  word,  he  used  to  compare  to 
the  throwing  of  a  net  into  the  water;  but  the 
expounding  of  it  is  like  the  spreading  out  of 
that  net,  which  makes  it  the  more  likely  to 
catch  fish:  especially  as  he  managed  it  with 
practical,  profitable  observations.  Some  that 
have  heard  him  read  a  chapter  with  this 
thought,  how  will  he  make  such  a  chapter 
as  this  useful  to  us  ?  have  been  surprised 
with  such  pertinent,  useful  instructions,  as 
they  have  owned  to  be  as  much  for  their  edi- 
fication as  any  sermon.  And  commonly 
when  he  had  expounded  a  chapter,  he  would 
desire  them  when  they  came  home  to  read  it 
over,  and  recollect  some  of  those  things  that 
had  been  spoken  to  them  out  of  it. 

In  his  expounding  of  the  Old  Testament, 
he  industriously  sought  for  something  in  it 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


175 


concerning  Clirist,  who  is  the  true  treasure 
hid  in  the  field,  the  true  manna  hid  in  the 
dew  of  the  Old  Testament.  Take  one  in- 
stance; the  last  Sabbath  that  ever  he  spent 
with  hi$  children  at  Chester,  in  the  public 
morning  worship,  he  read  and  expounded  the 
last  chapter  of  the  book  of  Job:  after  he  had 
gone  through  the  chapter,  and  observed  what 
he  thought  fit  out  of  it,  iie  expressed  himself 
to  this  purpose:  "When  I  have  read  a  chap- 
ter in  the  Old  Testament,  I  used  to  inquire 
what  there  is  in  it  that  points  at  Christ,  or  is 
any  way  applicable  to  Christ;  here  is  in  this 
chapter  a  great  deal  of  Job;  but  is  there  no- 
thing of  Christ  here  }  Yes;  you  have  heard 
of  the  patience  of  Job,  and  have  in  him  seen 
the  end  of  the  Lord.  This  in  Job  is  ap- 
plicable to  Christ,  that  after  he  had  patiently 
gone  through  his  sufferings,  he  was  appoint- 
ed an  intercessor  for  his  unkind  friends,  ver. 
8."  '  Go  to  my  servant  Job,  and  my  servant 
Job  shall  pray  for  you,  for  him  will  I  accept.^ 
"If  any  one  hath  an  errand  to  God,  let  him 
go  to  Jesus  Christ,  and  put  it  into  his  hand, 
for  there  is  no  acceptance  to  be  hoped  for 
with  God,  but  by  him,  who  is  his  beloved 
Son ;  not  only  with  whom  he  is  well  pleased. 


176 


LIFE  OP  THE 


but  in  whom,  viz.  with  us  in  him,  he  hath 
made  us  accepted  in  the  beloved." 

After  the  exposition  of  the  chapter  he  sung 
a  psalm,  and  commonly  chose  a  psalm  suit- 
able to  the  chapter  he  had  expounded;  and 
would  briefly  tell  his  hearers  how  they  might 
sing  that  psalm  with  understanding,  and  what 
aftections  of  soul  should  be  working  towards 
God  in  the  singing  of  it :  his  hints  of  that 
kind  were  of  great  use,  and  contributed  much 
to  the  right  performance  of  that  service;  he 
often  said,  "The  more  singing  of  psalms 
there  is  in  our  families  and  congregations  on 
Sabbath  days,  the  more  like  they  are  to 
heaven,  and  the  more  there  is  in  them  of  the 
everlasting  Sabbath."  He  would  say  some- 
times he  loved  to  sing  whole  psalms,  rather 
than  pieces  of  psalms. 

After  the  sermon  in  the  morning,  he  sung 
the  cxvii.  Psalm,  without  reading  the  line. 

He  intermitted  at  noon  about  an  hour  and 
a  half,  and  on  sacrament  days  not  near  so 
long,  in  which  time  he  took  some  little  re- 
freshment in  his  study,  making  no  formal 
dinner;  yet  many  of  his  friends  did  partake 
of  his  carnal,  as  well  as  of  his  spiritual  things, 
as  those  did  that  followed  Christ,  of  whom 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


177 


he  was  careful  they  should  not  faint  by  the 
way.  The  morning  sermon  was  repeated, 
by  a  ready  writer,  to  those  that  staid  in  the 
meeting  place,  as  many  did,  and  when  that 
was  done,  he  begun  the  afternoon's  exercise; 
in  which  he  not  only  read  and  expounded  a 
chapter,  but  catechized  the  children,  and  ex- 
pounded the  catechism  briefly  before  sermon. 
Thus  did  he  go  from  strength  to  strength, 
and  from  duty  to  duty,  on  Sabbath  days: 
running  the  ways  of  God's  commandments 
with  an  enlarged  heart.  And  the  variety^ 
and  vivacity  of  his  pubUc  services,  made  them 
exceedingly  pleasant  to  all  that  joined  with 
him,  who  never  had  cause  to  complain  of 
his  being  tedious.  He  used  to  say,  "  Every 
minute  of  Sabbath  time  is  precious,  and 
none  of  it  to  be  lost;"  and  that  he  scarce 
thought  the  Lord's  day  well  spent,  if  he  were 
not  weary  in  body  at  night;  wearied  with 
his  work  but  not  weary  of  it,  as  he  used  to 
distinguish.  He  would  say  sometimes  to 
those  about  him,  when  he  had  gone  through 
the  duties  of  a  Sabbath ;  "  Well  if  this  be 
not  the  way  to  Heaven,  I  do  not  know 
what  is." 

In  pressing  people  to  number  their  days, 
16 


178 


LIFE  OF  THE 


he  would  especially  exhort  them  to  number 
their  Sabbath  days,  how  many  they  have 
been,  and  how  ill  they  have  been  spent;  how 
few  ^tis  like  they  may  be,  that  they  may  be 
spent  better:  and  to  help  in  the  account,  he 
would  say,  that  "for  every  twenty  years  of 
our  lives,  we  enjoy  above  a  thousand  Sab- 
baths," which  must  all  be  accounted  for  in 
the  day  of  reckoning. 

As  to  his  constant  preaching,  it  was  very 
substantial  and  elaborate,  and  greatly  to  edi- 
fication. He  used  to  say,  he  could  not  starch 
in  his  preaching;  that  is,  he  would  not;  as 
knowing  where  the  language  and  expression 
is  stiff,  and  forced,  and  fine  (as  they  call  it)  it 
doth  not  reach  the  greatest  part  of  the  hear- 
ers. When  he  grew  old,  he  would  say,  surely 
he  might  now  take  a  greater  liberty  to  talk 
(as  he  called  it)  in  the  pulpit;  that  is,  to  speak 
famiUarly  to  people;  yet  to  the  last  he  abated 
not  in  his  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  nor  ever 
delivered  any  thing  raw  and  undigested; 
much  less  any  thing  unbecoming  the  gravity 
and  seriousness  of  the  work.  If  his  preach- 
ing were  talking,  it  were  talking  to  the  pur- 
pose. His  sermons  were  not  common  place, 
but  even  when  his  subjects  were  the  most 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


179 


plain  and  trite,  yet  his  management  of  them 
was  usually  peculiar  and  surprising.  In 
those  years,  as  formerly,  he  kept  for  the  most 
part  in  a  method  for  subjects,  and  was  very 
seldom  above  one  Sabbath  upon  a  text. 
And  his  constant  practice  was,  as  it  had 
been  before,  when  he  concluded  a  subject 
that  he  had  been  a  good  while  upon,  he 
spent  one  Sabbath  in  a  brief  rehearsal  of  the 
marrow  and  substance  of  the  many  sermons 
he  preached  upon  it;  which  he  called  the 
clinching  of  the  nail,  that  it  might  be  as  a 
nail  in  a  sure  place.  So  very  industrious 
was  he,  and  no  less  ingenious  in  his  endea- 
vours, that  his  hearers  might  be  "  able,  after 
his  decease,  to  have  these  things  always  in 
remembrance,"  2  Pet.  i.  15,  and  it  is  hoped, 
that  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the  effect  did  not 
altogether  disappoint  his  expectation.  In  the 
latter  times  of  his  ministry,  he  would  often 
contrive  the  heads  of  his  sermons  to  begin 
with  the  same  letter,  or  rather  two  and  two  of 
a  letter;  but  he  did  not  at  all  seem  to  affect  or 
force  it;  only  if  it  fell  in  naturally  and  easily, 
he  thought  it  a  good  help  to  memory,  and  of 
use,  especially  to  the  younger  sort.  And  he 
would  say,  the  chief  reason  why  he  did  it 


180 


LIFE  OP  THE 


was,  because  'tis  frequently  observed  in  the 
Scripture,  particularly  the  book  of  Psalms. 
And  though  it  be  not  a  fashionable  ornament 
of  discourse,  if  it  be  a  Scripture  ornament, 
that  is  sufficient  to  recommend  it,  at  least  to 
justify  it  against  the  imputation  of  childish- 
ness. But  the  excellency  of  his  sermons  lay 
chiefly  in  the  enlargements,  which  were  al- 
ways very  solid,  grave,  and  judicious;  but 
in  expressing  and  marshalling  his  heads,  he 
often  condescended  below  his  own  judg- 
ment, to  help  his  hearers'  memories.  Some 
of  his  subjects  (when  he  had  finished  them) 
he  made  some  short  memorandums  of  in 
verse,  a  distich  or  two  of  each  Sabbath's 
work,  and  gave  them  out  in  writing,  among 
the  young  ones  of  his  congregation,  many 
of  whom  wrote  them,  and  learned  them,  and 
profited  by  them. 

It  might  be  of  use  (especially  to  those  who 
had  the  happiness  of  sitting  under  his  minis- 
try) to  give  some  account  of  the  method  of 
his  Sabbath  subjects,  during  the  last  eight  or 
nine  years  of  his  ministry;  and  it  was  de- 
signed, till  'twas  found  'twould  swell  this 
narrative  into  too  great  a  bulk. 

2.  As  to  the  administration  of  the  sacra- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


181 


ments,  those  mysteries  of  God,  which  minis- 
ters are  the  stewards  of. 

As  to  the  sacrament  of  baptism,  he  had 
never  (that  I  know  of)  baptized  any  chil- 
dren (except  his  own)  from  the  time  he  was 
turned  out  in  1662,  till  this  last  liberty  came, 
though  often  desired  to  do  it:  but  now  he 
revived  the  administration  of  that  ordinance 
in  his  congregation.  The  occasion  was  this: 
one  of  the  parish  ministers  preaching  at 
Whitewell  chapel,  Mr.  Henry  and  his  family, 
and  many  of  his  friends  being  present,  was 
earnestly  cautioning  people  not  to  go  to  con- 
venticles, and  used  this  as  an  argument 
against  it,  "That  they  were  baptized  into  the 
church  of  England:"  INIr.  Henry's  catholic 
charity  could  not  well  digest  this  monopoliz- 
ing of  the  great  ordinance  of  baptism,  and 
thought  it  time  to  bear  his  testimony  against 
such  narrow  principles,  which  he  ever  ex- 
pressed his  dislike  of  in  all  parties  and  per- 
suasions. Accordingly  he  took  the  next  op- 
portunity that  offered  itself,  publicly  to  bap- 
tize a  child,  and  desired  the  congregation  to 
bear  witness,  "That  he  did  not  baptize  that 
child  into  the  church  of  England,  nor  into 
the  church  of  Scotland,  nor  into  the  church 


182 


LIFE  OF  THE 


of  the  dissenters,  nor  into  the  church  at  Broad 
Oak,  but  into  the  visible  catholic  church  of 
Jesus  Christ."  After  this  he  baptized  very- 
many,  and  always  publicly,  though  being  in 
the  country  they  were  commonly  carried  a 
good  way.  The  public  administration  of 
baptism  he  not  only  judged  most  agreeable 
to  the  nature  and  end  of  the  ordinance, 
but  found  to  be  very  profitable  and  edifying 
to  the  congregation;  for  he  always  took  that 
occasion,  not  only  to  explain  the  nature  of  the 
ordinance,  but  affectionately  and  patheti- 
cally to  excite  people  duly  to  improve  their 
baptism.  He  usually  received  the  child 
immediately  cut  of  the  hands  of  the  parent 
that  presented  it,  and  returned  it  into  the 
same  hands  again,  with  this  or  the  like 
charge,  "  Take  this  child,  and  bring  it  up  for 
God."  He  used  to  say,  that  one  advantage 
of  public  baptism  was,  that  there  were  many 
to  join  in  prayer  for  the  child,  in  which 
therefore,  and  in  blessing  God  for  it,  he  was 
usually  very  large  and  particular.  After  he 
had  baptized  the  child,  before  he  gave  it 
back  to  the  parent,  he  commonly  used  these 
words:  "  We  receive  this  child  into  the  con- 
gregation of  Christ's  church,  having  washed 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


183 


it  with  water,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  token 
that  hereafter  it  shall  not  be  ashamed  to  con- 
fess Christ  crucified,  and  manfully  to  fight," 
&c. 

He  baptized  many  adult  persons,  that 
through  the  error  of  their  parents  were  not 
baptized  in  infancy,  and  some  in  public. 

The  solemn  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  sup- 
per he  constantly  celebrated  in  his  congrega- 
tion once  a  month,  and  always  to  a  very  con- 
siderable number  of  communicants.  He  did 
not  usually  observe  public  days  of  prepara- 
ration  for  that  ordinance,  other  than  as  they 
fell  in  course  in  the  weekly  lectures;  nor  did 
he  ever  appropriate  any  particular  subject  of 
his  preaching  to  sacrament  days,  having  a 
great  felicity  in  adapting  any  profitable  sub- 
ject to  such  an  occasion:  and  he  would  say. 
What  did  the  primitive  Christians  do,  when 
they  celebrated  the  Lord's  supper  every 
Lord's  day  ?  His  administration  of  this  or- 
dinance was  very  solemn  and  affecting.  He 
had  been  wont  to  go  about  in  the  congrega- 
tion, and  to  deliver  the  elements  with  his 
own  hands ;  but  in  his  latter  time,  he  deliver- 
ed them  only  to  those  near  him,  and  so  they 


184 


LIFE  OF  THE 


were  handed  from  one  to  another,  with  the 
assistance  of  one  who  suppUed  the  office  of  a 
deacon,  as  having  also  the  custody  and  dis- 
posal of  the  money  gathered  for  the  use  of 
the  poor;  Mr.  Henry  taking  and  carefully 
keeping  a  particular  account  of  it. 

Such  as  desired  to  be  admitted  to  the 
Lord's  supper,  he  first  discoursed  with  con- 
cerning their  spiritual  state ;  and  how  the  case 
stood  between  God  and  their  souls;  not  only 
to  examine  them,  but  to  instruct  and  teach 
them,  and  to  encourage  them  as  he  saw  occa- 
sion; gently  leading  those  whom  he  discern- 
ed to  be  serious,  though  weak  and  timorous: 
he  usually  discoursed  with  them  more  than 
once,  as  finding  precept  upon  precept,  and 
line  upon  line  necessary:  but  he  did  it  with 
so  much  mildness,  and  humility,  and  tender- 
ness, and  endeavour  to  make  the  best  of 
every  body,  as  did  greatly  affect  and  win 
upon  many.  He  was  herein  like  our  great 
Master,  who  "  can  have  compassion  on  the 
ignorant,  and  doth  not  "  despise  the  day  of 
small  things." 

But  his  admission  of  young  people  out  of 
the  rank  of  catechumens  into  that  of  commu- 
nicants, had  a  peculiar  selemnity  in  it.  Such 


REV.  PHILIP  HEXRT. 


185 


as  he  catechized,  when  they  grew  up  to 
some  years  of  discretion,  if  he  observed 
them  to  be  inteUigent  and  serious,  and  to  set 
their  faces  heavenwards:  he  marked  them 
out  to  be  admitted  to  the  Lord's  supper; 
and  when  he  had  a  competent  number  of 
such,  twelve  or  fifteen  perhaps,  or  more  he 
ordered  each  of  them  to  come  to  him  seve- 
rally, and  discoursed  with  them  of  the  things 
belonging  to  their  everlasting  peace:  put  it 
to  their  choice  whom  they  would  serve:  and 
endeavoured  to  afi"ect  them  with  those  things 
with  which  by  their  catechisms  they  had 
been  made  acquainted:  drawing  them  with 
the  cords  of  a  man,  and  the  bands  of  love, 
into  the  way  which  is  called  holy.  For  se- 
veral Lord's  days  he  catechized  them,  par- 
ticularly in  public,  touching  the  Lord's  sup- 
per, and  the  duty  of  preparation  for  it,  and 
their  baptismal  covenant,  which  in  that  ordi- 
nance they  were  to  take  upon  themselves, 
and  to  make  their  own  act  and  deed.  Often 
telling  them  upon  such  occasions,  that  they 
were  not  to  oblige  themselves  to  any  more 
than  what  they  were  already  obliged  to  by 
their  baptism,  only  to  bind  themselves  faster 
to  it.    Then  he  appointed  a  day  in  the  week 


186 


LIFE  OF  THE 


before  the  ordinance;  when  in  a  solemn  as- 
sembly on  purpose,  he  prayed  for  them,  and 
preached  a  sermon  to  them,  proper  to  their 
age  and  circumstances:  and  so  the  following 
Sabbath  they  were  all  received  together  to 
the  Lord's  supper.  This  he  looked  upon  as 
the  right  confirmation,  or  transition,  into  the 
state  of  adult  church  membership.  The  more 
solemn  our  covenanting  with  God  is,  the  more 
deep  and  the  more  durable  the  impressions 
are  likely  to  be.  He  has  recorded  it  in  his 
diary,  upon  one  of  these  occasions,  as  his 
heart's  desire  and  prayer  for  those  who  were 
thus  admitted,  "  That  it  might  be  as  the  day 
of  their  espousals  to  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  that 
they  might  each  of  them  have  a  wedding 
garment." 

3.  The  discipline  he  observed  in  his  congre- 
gation was,  not  such  as  he  could  have  wish- 
ed for,  but  the  best  he  could  get,  considering 
what  a  scattered  flock  he  had,  which  was  his 
trouble,  but  it  could  not  be  helped.  He 
would  sometimes  apply  to  the  circumstances 
he  was  in,  that  of  Moses,  Deut.  xii.  8,  9. 
However,  I  see  not  but  the  end  was  effec- 
tually attained  by  the  methods  he  took, 
though  there  wanted  the  formality  of  officers 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRr. 


187 


and  church  meetings  for  the  purpose.  If  he 
heard  of  any  that  walked  disorderly,  he  sent 
for  them,  and  reproved  them,  gently  or  sharp- 
ly, as  he  saw  the  case  required.  If  the  sin 
had  scandal  in  it,  he  suspended  them  from 
'he  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  supper,  till  they 
^ave  some  tokens  of  their  repentance  and  re- 
formation. And  where  the  offence  was  pub- 
lic and  gross,  his  judgment  was,  that  some 
public  satisfaction  should  be  made  to  the 
congregation  before  re-admission.  But  what- 
ever offence  did  happen,  or  breaches  of  the 
Christian  peace,  Mr.  Henry's  peculiar  excel- 
lency lay  in  restoring  with  the  spirit  of  meek- 
ness; which,  with  his  great  prudence,  and 
love,  and  condescension,  did  so  much  com- 
mand the  respect  of  his  people,  and  win  upon 
them,  that  there  was  a  universal  satisfaction 
in  all  his  management;  and  it  may  truly  be 
^aid  of  him,  as  it  was  of  David,  2  Sam.  iii. 
06,  that  "whatsoever  he  did  pleased  all  the 
people."  And  it  is  an  instance  and  evidence 
that  those  ministers  who  will  rule  by  love 
and  meekness,  need  no  laws  or  canons  to 
rule  by,  other  than  those  of  the  holy  Scrip- 
ture. "  How  forcible  are  right  words!''  Job 
vi.  25. 


188 


LIFE  OP  THE 


4.  He  was  very  strict  and  very  serious  in 
observing  the  public  fasts  appointed  by  au- 
thority, and  caUed  them  a  denght.  He  had 
seldom  any  one  to  assist  him  in  carrying  on 
the  duties  of  those  days,  but  performed  the 
service  of  them  himself  alone.  He  began  at 
nine  of  the  clock,  or  quickly  after,  and  never 
stirred  out  of  the  pulpit  till  about  four  in  the 
afternoon,  spending  all  that  time  in  praying 
and  expounding,  and  singing,  and  preaching, 
to  the  admiration  of  all  that  heard  him,  who 
were  generally  more  on  such  days  than  usual. 
And  he  was  sometimes  observed  to  be  more 
warm  and  lively  towards  the  latter  end  of 
the  duties  of  a  fast  day,  than  at  the  begin- 
ning ;  as  if  the  spirit  were  most  wilhng  and 
enlarged  when  the  flesh  was  most  weak. 
In  all  his  performances  on  public  fast  days, 
he  did,  hoc  agere,  attend  to  that  which  was 
the  proper  work  of  the  day;  every  thing  is 
beautiful  in  its  season.  His  prayers  and 
pleadings  with  God  on  those  days,  were  espe- 
cially for  national  mercies,  and  the  pardon  of 
national  sins:  how  excellently  did  he  order 
the  cause  before  God,  and  fill  his  mouth  with 
arguments  in  his  large  and  particular  inter- 
cessions for  the  land,  for  the  king,  the  go- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


189 


vernment,  the  army,  the  navy,  the  church, 
the  French  Protestants,  &:c.  He  was  ano- 
ther Jacob,  a  wrestler,  an  Israel,  a  prince 
with  God.  Before  a  fast  day  he  would  be 
more  than  ordinarily  inquisitive  concerning 
the  state  of  public  affairs,  as  Nehemiah  was, 
Neh.  i.  2,  that  he  might  know  the  better  how 
to  order  his  prayers  and  preaching :  for  on 
such  a  day  (he  hath  sometimes  said)  ^"^as 
good  say  nothing,  as  nothing  to  the  purpose. 
He  made  it  his  business  on  fast  days,  to  show 
people  their  trangressions,  especially  the 
house  of  Jacob  their  sins.  "  'Tis  most  proper 
(said  he)  to  preach  of  Christ  on  Lord's  days, 
to  preach  of  sin  on  fast  days,  and  to  preach 
duty  on  both.  He  went  over  the  third  chap- 
ter of  the  Revelation,  in  the  fast  sermons  of 
two  years.  Another  year  he  preached  over 
the  particulars  of  that  charge,  Zeph.  iii.  2. 
Hypocrisy  in  hearers,  and  flattery  in  preach- 
ers (as  he  would  sometimes  say)  is  bad  at 
any  time,  but  it  is  especially  abominable  upon 
a  day  of  humiliation. 

5.  He  preached  a  great  many  lectures  in  the 
country  about,  some  stated,  some  occasional, 
in  supplying  of  which  he  was  very  indefati- 
gable.   He  hath  sometimes  preached  a  lec- 


190 


LIFE  OF  THE 


tare,  ridden  eight  or  nine  miles,  and  preach- 
ed another,  and  the  next  day  two  more:  to 
quicken  himself  to  diligence  he  would  often 
say,  our  opportunities  are  passing  away, 
and  we  must  work  while  it  is  day,  for  the 
night  Cometh."  Once  having  very  wet  and 
foul  weather  to  go  through  to  preach  a  lec- 
ture, he  said,  he  comforted  himself  with  two 
Scriptures;  one  was  2  Tim.  ii.  3,  "Endure 
hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ." 
The  other  (because  he  exposed  and  hazarded 
his  health,  for  which  some  blamed  him)  was 
2  Sam.  vi.  21.  "It  was  before  the  Lord." 
He  took  all  occasions  in  his  lectures  abroad, 
to  possess  the  minds  of  people  with  sober 
and  moderate  principles,  and  to  stir  them  up 
to  the  serious  regard  of  those  things  wherein 
we  are  all  agreed.  "  We  are  not  met  here 
together  (said  he  once  in  an  exhortation, 
with  which  he  often  began  at  his  lecture) 
because  we  think  ourselves  better  than  others, 
but  because  it  is  our  desire  to  be  better  than 
we  are." 

He  was  very  happy  in  the  choice  of  his 
subjects  for  his  week  day  lectures.  At  one 
which  was  stated,  he  preached  against  errors 
in  general,  from  James  i.  16,  "  Do  not  err  my 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


191 


beloved  brethren;^'  particularly  from  divers 
other  Scriptures  he  showedj  that  we  must 
not  err,  concerning  God  and  Christ,  and  the 
Spirit;  concerning  sin  and  repentance,  faith 
and  good  works;  concerning  God's  ordi- 
nances; concerning  grace  and  peace,  and 
afflictions  and  prosperity,  and  the  things  of 
the  life  to  come. 

At  the  monthly  lectures  he  delivered  at  his 
own  house,  he  chose  to  preach  upon  the 
four  last  things,  death  and  judgment,  heaven 
and  hell,  in  many  particulars,  but  common- 
ly a  new  text  for  every  sermon.  When  he 
had  in  many  sermons  finished  the  first  of  the 
four,  one  that  used  to  hear  him  sometimes, 
inquiring  of  his  progress  in  his  subjects,  ask- 
ed him  if  he  had  done  with  death  ?  meaning 
that  subject  concerning  death;  to  which  he 
pleasantly  replied,  "No,  I  have  not  done 
with  him  yet;  I  must  have  another  turn  with 
him,  and  he  will  give  me  a  fall:  but  I  hope 
to  have  the  victory  at  last."  He  would  some- 
times remove  the  lectures  in  the  country  from 
one  place  to  another,  for  the  benefit  of  those 
that  could  not  travel.  Once  having  adjourn- 
ed a  lecture  to  a  new  place,  he  began  it  there 
with  a  sermon  on  Acts  xvii.  6,  "  These  men 


192 


LIFE  OF  THE 


that  have  turned  the  world  upside  down, 
are  come  hither  also;"  in  which  he  showed 
how  false  the  charge  is  as  they  meant  it ;  for 
religion  doth  not  disturb  the  peace  of  fami- 
lies or  societies,  doth  not  cause  any  disorder 
or  unquietness,  &c.  And  yet,  that  in  another 
sense  there  is  a  great  truth  in  it;  that  when 
the  gospel  comes  in  power  to  any  soul,  it 
turns  the  world  upside  down  in  that  soul; 
such  is  the  change  it  makes  there. 

All  this  he  did  gratis,  and  without  being 
burthensome  to  any;  nay,  he  was  best  pleas- 
ed, when  at  the  places  where  he  preached, 
nothing  was  got  for  his  entertainment,  but 
he  came  home  (though  some  miles)  fasting; 
as  in  other  places  it  was  a  trouble  to  him  to 
see  his  friends  careful  about  much  serving, 
though  it  was  out  of  their  respect  to  him. 

Lastly,  As  he  was  an  excellent  preacher 
himself,  so  he  was  an  exemplary  hearer  of 
the  word,  when  others  preached,  though 
every  way  his  inferiors;  so  reverent,  serious, 
and  attentive,  was  he  in  hearing,  and  so  ob- 
servant of  what  was  spoken.  I  have  heard 
him  tell,  that  he  knew  one  (and  I  suppose  it 
was  as  Paul  knew  a  man  in  Christ)  who 
could  truly  say,  to  the  glory  of  God,  that  for 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


193 


forty  years  he  had  never  slept  at  a  sermon. 
He  was  diligent  also  to  improve  what  he 
heard  afterwards  by  meditations,  repeti- 
tion, prayer,  and  discourse;  and  he  was  a 
very  great  encourager  of  young  ministers 
that  were  humble  and  serious,  though  their 
abilities  and  performances  were  but  mean. 
He  has  noted  in  his  diary,  (as  that  which 
affected  him,)  this  saying  of  a  godly  man,  a 
hearer  of  his,  "  I  find  it  easier  to  go  six  miles 
to  hear  a  sermon,  than  to  spend  one  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  in  meditating  and  praying 
over  it  in  secret  (as  I  should)  when  I  come 
home." 

As  to  the  circumstances  of  his  family  in 
the  last  nine  years  of  his  life,  they  were  some- 
what different  from  what  they  had  been;  but 
the  same  candle  of  God  which  had  shined 
upon  his  tabernacle  continued  still  to  do  so. 
In  the  years  1687,  and  16SS,he  married  all  his 
five  children;  the  three  eldest  in  four  months 
time,  in  the  year  1687,  and  the  other  two  in  a 
year  and  a  half  after;  so  many  swarms,  (as  he 
used  to  call  them)  out  of  his  hive ;  and  all  iiot 
only  with  his  full  consent,  but  to  his  abundant 
comfort  and  satisfaction.  He  would  say,  he 
thought  it  the  duty  of  parents  to  study  to 
17 


194 


LIFE  or  THE 


oblige  their  children  in  that  affair.  And 
though  never  could  children  be  more  easy 
and  at  rest  in  a  father's  house  than  his  were, 
yet  he  would  sometimes  say  concerning  them, 
as  Naomi  to  Ruth,  Ruth  iii.  1,  "  Shall  I  not 
seek  rest  for  thee  ?"  Two  advices  he  used 
to  give,  both  to  his  children  and  others,  in 
their  choice  of  that  relation :  one  Avas,  "  Keep 
within  the  bonds  of  profession,"  such  as  one 
may  charitably  hope  is  from  a  good  princi- 
ple. The  other  was,  ^' Look  at  suitableness," 
in  age,  quality,  education,  temper,  &c.  He 
used  to  observe  from  Gen.  ii.  IS,  "I  will 
make  him  a  help  meet  for  him;"  that  where 
there  is  not  meetness,  there  will  not  be  much 
help.  And  he  would  commonly  say  to  his 
children,  with  reference  to  that  choice, "Please 
God,  and  please  yourselves,  and  you  shall 
never  displease  me;"  and  greatly  blamed 
those  parents,  who  conclude  matches  for 
their  children,  and  do  not  ask  counsel  at 
their  mouth.  He  never  aimed  at  great  things 
in  the  world  for  his  children,  but  sought  for 
them  in  the  first  place  the  kingdom  of  God, 
and  the  righteousness  thereof.  He  used  to 
mention  sometimes  the  saying  of  a  pious 
gentlewoman,  that  had  many  daughters: 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


195 


"The  care  of  most  people,  is  how  to  get 
good  husbands  for  their  daughters;  but  my 
care  is  to  fit  my  daughters  to  be  good  wives, 
and  then  let  God  provide  for  them.''  In  this, 
as  in  other  things,  Mr.  Henry  steered  by  that 
principle;  that  "a  man's  life  consisteth  not  in 
the  abundance  of  the  things  that  he  possess- 
eth."  And  it  pleased  God  so  to  order  it,  that 
all  his  children  were  disposed  of,  into  cir- 
cumstances very  agreeable  and  comfortable, 
both  for  life  and  godliness.  He  was  greatly 
affected  with  the  goodness  of  God  to  him 
herein,  without  any  forecast  or  contrivance 
of  his  own.  "  The  country  (says  he  in  his 
diary)  takes  notice  of  it,  and  what  then 
shall  I  render  ?"  Surely  this  is  a  token  for 
good. 

All  his  four  daughters  were  married  at 
Whitewell  chapel,  and  he  preached  a  wed- 
ding sermon  for  ^ch  of  them,  in  his  own 
family,  after.  He  would  often  tell  his  friends, 
that  those  Avho  desire,  in  the  married  condi- 
tion, to  live  in  the  favour  of  God,  must  enter 
upon  that  condition  in  the  fear  of  God.  For 
it  is  an  ill  omen  to  stumble  at  the  threshold: 
and  an  error  in  the  first  concoction,  is  seldom 
amended  in  the  second. 


196 


LIFE  OF  THE 


While  he  lived,  he  had  much  comfort  in 
all  his  children  and  their  yoke-fellows,  and 
somewhat  the  more,  that  by  the  Divine  Pro- 
vidence, four  of  the  five  families  which 
branched  out  of  his,  were  settled  in  Chester. 

His  youngest  daughter  was  married  April 
26,  16S8,  the  same  day  of  the  year  (as  he 
observes  in  his  diary)  and  the  same  day  of 
the  week,  and  in  the  same  place  that  he 
was  married  to  his  dear  wife,  twenty-eight 
years  before;  upon  which  this  is  his  remark, 
"  I  cannot  desire  for  them,  that  they  should 
receive  more  from  God  than  we  have  receiv- 
ed, in  that  relation  and  condition;  but  I 
would  desire,  and  do  desire,  that  they  may 
do  more  for  God  in  it  than  we  have  done." 
His  usual  compliment  to  his  new-married 
friends,  was.  Others  wish  you  all  happiness, 
I  wish  you  all  holiness,  and  then  there  is  no 
doubt  but  you  will  have  all  happiness. 

When  the  marriage  of  the  last  of  his  daugh- 
ters was  about  to  be  concluded  on,  he  thus 
writes:  "But  is  Joseph  gone,  and  Simeon 
gone,  and  must  Benjamin  go  also?  we  will 
not  say  that  all  these  things  are  against  us, 
but  for  us:  if  we  must  be  thus  in  this  merci- 
ful way  bereaved  of  our  children,  let  us  be 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


197 


bereaved;  and  God  turn  it  for  good  to  them, 
as  we  know  he  will  if  they  love  and  fear  his 
name."  And  when,  some  time  after  she  was 
married,  he  parted  with  her  to  the  house  of 
her  husband,  he  thus  writes:  "We  have 
sent  her  away,  not  as  Laban  said  he  would 
have  sent  his  daughters  away,  with  mirth 
and  with  songs,  with  tabret,  and  with  harp, 
but  with  prayers  and  tears,  and  hearty  good 
wishes.'^  "And  now  (says  he  in  his  diary) 
we  are  alone  again,  as  we  were  in  our  be- 
ginning; God  be  better  to  us  than  twenty 
children.'^  Upon  the  same  occasion  he  thus 
writes  to  a  dear  relation:  "  We  are  now  left 
as  we  were,  one  and  one,  and  yet  but  one; 
the  Lord,  I  trust,  that  has  brought  us  thus 
far,  will  enable  us  to  finish  well;  and  then 
all  will  be  well,  and  not  till  then." 

That  which  he  often  mentioned,  as  the 
matter  of  his  great  comfort  that  it  was  so, 
and  his  desire  that  it  might  continue  so,  was, 
the  love  and  unity  that  was  among  his  chil- 
dren; and  that  (as  he  writes)  the  transplant- 
ing of  them  into  new  relations,  had  not  les- 
sened that  love,  but  rather  increased  it;  for 
this  he  often  gave  thanks  to  the  God  of  love; 
noting  from  Job.  i.  4,  That  the  children's  love 


198 


LIFE  OF  THE 


to  one  another  is  the  parents'  comfort  and 
joy.  In  his  last  will  and  testament,  this  is 
the  prayer  which  he  puts  up  for  his  children. 
"That  the  Lord  would  build  them  up  in  ho- 
liness, and  continue  them  still  in  brotherly 
love,  as  a  bundle  of  arrows  which  cannot  be 
broken.'' 

When  his  children  were  removed  from 
him,  he  was  a  daily  intercessor  at  the  throne 
of  grace  for  them  and  their  families.  Still 
the  burnt  offerings  were  offered  according  to 
the  number  of  them  all.  He  used  to  say, 
"  Surely,  the  children  of  so  many  prayers 
will  not  miscarry."  Their  particular  circum- 
stances of  affliction  and  danger,  were  sure  to 
be  mentioned  by  him  with  suitable  petitions. 
The  greatest  affliction  he  saw  in  his  family 
was  the  death  of  his  dear  daughter-in-law, 
Catharine,  the  only  daughter  of  Samuel  Hard- 
ware, Esq.,  who,  about  a  3^ear  and  a  half  after 
she  was  transplanted  into  his  family  (to  which 
she  was  the  greatest  comfort  and  ornament 
imaginable)  died  of  the  small-pox  in  child- 
bed, upon  the  thanksgiving  day  for  King  Wil- 
ham's  coming  in.  She  died  but  a  few  weeks 
after  Mr.  Henry  had  married  the  last  of  his 
daughters,  upon  which  marriage  she  had  said. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


199 


"Now  we  have  a  full  lease,  God  only  knows 
which  life  will  drop  first."  She  comforted 
herself  in  the  extremity  of  her  illness  with 
this  word,  "  Well,  when  I  come  to  heaven,  I 
shall  see  that  I  could  not  have  been  without 
this  affliction."  She  had  been  for  some  time 
before  under  some  fears  as  to  her  spiritual 
state,  but  the  clouds  were  through  grace  dis- 
pelled, and  she  finished  her  course  with  joy, 
and  a  cheerful  expectation  of  the  glory  to  be 
revealed.  When  she  lay  ill,  Mr.  Henry  (be- 
ing in  fear  not  only  for  her  that  was  ill,  but 
for  the  rest  of  his  children  in  Chester,  who 
had  none  of  them  past  the  pikes  of  that  peril- 
ous distemper)  wrote  thus  to  his  son,  on  the 
evening  of  the  Lord's  day, have  just  done 
the  public  work  of  this  day,  wherein,  before 
many  scores  of  witnesses,  many  of  whom  I 
dare  say,  are  no  little  concerned  for  you. 
I  have  absolutely,  freely,  and  unreservedly 
given  you  all  up  to  the  good  will  and  plea- 
sure of  our  heavenly  Father,  waiting  what 
he  will  do  with  us,  for  good  I  am  sure  we 
have  received,  and  shall  we  not  receive  evil 
also  ?  He  preached  at  Chester,  upon  occa- 
sion of  that  sad  breach  in  his  family,  on  Job 


200 


LIFE  OF  THE 


X.  3,  Show  me  wherefore  thou  contendest 
with  me." 

When  two  of  his  children  lay  ill,  and  in 
perilous  circumstances,  after  he  had  been 
wrestling  with  God  in  prayer  for  them,  he 
wrote  thus  in  his  diary:  ''If  the  Lord  will 
be  pleased  to  grant  me  my  request  this  time 
concerning  my  children,  I  will  not  say  as  the 
beggars  at  our  door  used  to  do,  I'll  never  ask 
any  thing  of  him  again;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
he  shall  hear  oftener  from  me  than  ever;  and 
I  will  love  God  the  better,  and  love  prayer 
the  better,  as  long  as  I  live/''  He  used  to 
say,  tradesmen  take  it  ill.  if  those  that  are  in 
their  books  go  to  another  shop;  while  we 
are  so  much  indebted  to  God  for  past  mer- 
cies, we  are  bound  to  attend  him  for  further 
mercies. 

As  he  was  an  intercessor  for  his  children 
at  the  throne  of  grace,  so  he  was  upon  all 
occasions  a  remembrancer  to  them,  both  by 
word  and  letter,  to  quicken  them  to  that 
which  is  good.  How  often  did  he  inculcate 
this  upon  them?  ''Love  one  another,  and 
the  God  of  love  and  peace  will  be  with  you. 
Do  all  you  can,  while  you  are  together,  to 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


201 


help  one  another  to  heaven,  that  you  may  be 
together  there,  for  ever,  and  with  the  Lord." 
When  the  famiUes  of  his  children  were  in 
health  and  peace,  the  candle  of  God  shining 
upon  their  tabernacles,  he  wrote  thus  to 
them,  "  'Twas  one  of  Job's  comforts  in  his 
prosperity,  that  his  children  loved  one  ano- 
ther, and  feasted  together:  the  same  is  ours 
in  you,  which  God  continue.  But  you  will 
not  be  offended,  if  we  pray  that  you  may 
none  of  you  curse  God  in  your  hearts.  Re- 
member the  wheel  is  always  in  motion,  and 
the  spoke  that  is  uppermost  will  be  under, 
and  therefore  mix  tremblings  always  with 
your  joy." 

He  much  rejoiced  in  the  visits  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  made  that  as  other  things,  which 
were  the  matter  of  his  rejoicing,  the  mat- 
ter of  his  thanksgiving.  His  usual  saying  at 
parting,  was,  "This  is  not  the  world  we 
are  to  be  together  in,  and  ^tis  well  it  is  not; 
but  there  is  such  a  world  before  us:"  and  his 
usual  prayer  was,  "  that  our  next  meeting 
might  be  either  in  heaven,  or  further  on  in 
our  way  towards  it." 

He  had  in  eight  years  time  twenty-four 
grand-children  born,  some  by  each  of  his 
18 


202 


LIFE  OF  THE 


children;  concerning  whom  he  would  often 
bless  God,  that  they  were  all  ''the  sealed  ones 
of  the  God  of  heaven,  and  enrolled  among 
his  lambs."  On  the  birth  of  his  second 
grand-child,  at  a  troublesome  time  as  to  pub- 
lic affairs,  he  thus  writes, ''  I  have  now  seen 
my  children's  children,  let  me  also  see  peace 
upon  Israel;  and  then  I  will  say,  Lord,  now 
lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart."  Some 
were  much  affected  with  it,  when  he  bap- 
tized two  of  his  grand-children  together  at 
Chester,  publicly,  and  preached  on  Gen. 
xxxiii.  5,  "I'hey  are  the  children  which  God 
hath  graciously  given  thy  servant."  He  ob- 
served in  what  a  savory,  pious,  gracious 
manner  Jacob  speaks.  He  had  spoken  good 
sense  if  he  had  only  said,  they  are  my  chil- 
dren ;  but  then  he  had  not  spoken  like  Jacob, 
like  one  that  had  so  lately  seen  the  face  of 
God.  '  Though  our  speech  be  not  always  of 
grace,  yet  it  must  be  always  with  grace, 
grace  poured  into  the  lips.  There  is  a  kind 
of  language,  the  air  of  which  speaks  it  the 
language  of  Canaan;  Christians  should  speak 
like  Christians. 

It  was  not  long  after  his  children  were  mar- 
ried from  him,  but  his  house  was  filled  again 


RKV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


203 


with  the  children  of  his  friends,  several  of 
whom  he  was,  by  much  importunity  persuad- 
ed to  take  to  table  with  him.  All  that  knew 
him,  thought  it  a  thousand  pities,  that  such  a 
master  of  a  family  should  have  but  a  small 
family,  and  should  not  have  many  to  sit 
down  under  his  shadow.  He  was  first  al- 
most necessitated  to  it,  by  the  death  of  his 
dear  friend  and  kinsman,  Mr.  Benyon  of 
Ash,  who  left  his  children  to  his  care.  Some 
he  took  gratis,  or  for  small  consideration; 
and  when  by.  reason  of  the  advances  of  age 
he  could  not  go  about  so  much  as  he  had 
done,  doing  good,  he  laid  out  himself  to  do 
the  more  at  home.  He  kept  a  teacher  to  at- 
tend their  school  learning;  and  they  had  the 
benefit,  not  only  of  his  inspection  in  that,  but 
(which  was  much  more)  his  family-worship, 
Sabbath  instructions,  catechizing  and  daily 
converse,  in  which  his  tongue  was  as  choice 
silver,  and  his  lips  fed  many.  Nothing  but 
the  hopes  of  doing  some  good  to  the  rising 
generation  could  have  prevailed  with  him  to 
take  this  trouble  upon  him.  He  would  often 
say,  "  We  have  a  busy  house,  but  there  is  a 
rest  remaining.  We  must  be  doing  some- 
thing in  the  world  while  we  are  in  it;  but 


204 


LIFE  OF  THE 


this  fashion  will  not  last  long,  methinks  I 
see  it  passing  away." 

Sometimes  he  had  such  with  him  as  had 
gone  through  their  course  of  University  learn- 
ing at  private  academies,  and  desired  to  spend 
some  time  in  his  family,  before  their  entrance 
upon  the  ministry,  that  they  might  have 
the  benefit,  not  only  of  his  public  and  family 
instructions,  but  of  his  learned  pious  con- 
verse, in  which,  as  he  was  thoroughly  fur- 
nished, for  every  good  word  and  work,  so  he 
was  very  free  and  communicative.  The  great 
thing  which  he  used  to  press  upon  those  who 
intended  the  ministry,  was  to  study  the  Scrip- 
tures, and  make  them  familiar.  Bonus  tex- 
tuarius  est  bonus  theologus,  was  a  maxim 
he  often  reminded  them  of  For  this  purpose 
he  recommended  to  them  the  study  of  the 
Hebrew,  that  they  might  be  able  to  search 
the  Scriptures  in  the  original.  He  also  ad- 
vised them  to  the  use  of  an  interleaved  Bible, 
wherein  to  insert  such  expositions  and  ob- 
servations as  occur  occasional  ly  ki  sermons 
or  other  books;  which,  he  would  say,  are 
more  happy  and  considerable  sometimes, 
than  those  that  are  found  in  the  professed 
commentators.    When  some  young  men  de- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


205 


sired  the  happiness  of  coming  into  his  family, 
he  would  tell  them,  "  You  come  to  me  as 
Naamaii  did  to  EUsha,  expecting  that  I 
should  do  this  and  the  other  for  you ;  and 
alas,  I  can  but  say  as  he  did.  Go  wash  in 
Jordan; — Go,  study  the  Scriptures.  I  pro- 
fess to  teach  no  other  learning  but  Scripture 
learning."  It  was  but  a  little  before  he  died, 
that  in  reading  Isa.  1.  he  observed  from  ver. 
4,  "  The  Lord  hath  given  me  the  tongue  of 
the  learned,"  &c.  That  the  true  learning  of 
a  gospel  minister  consists  not  in  being  able  to 
talk  Latin  fluently,  and  to  dispute  in  philoso- 
phy, but  in  being  able  to  speak  a  word  in 
season  to  weary  souls.  He  that  knows  how 
to  do  that  well,  is  a  learned  minister. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

His  Sickness,  Death,  and  Burial. 

In  the  time  of  his  health,  he  made  death  very 
familiar  to  himself  by  frequent  and  pleasing 
thoughts  and  meditations  of  it;  and  endea- 
voured to  make  it  so  to  his  friends,  by  speak- 


206 


LIFE  OF  THE 


ing  often  of  it.  His  letters  and  discourses 
had  still  something  or  other  which  spoke  his 
constant  expectations  of  death;  thus  did  he 
learn  to  die  daily;  and  it  is  hard  to  say, 
whether  it  was  more  easy  to  him  to  speak, 
or  uneasy  to  his  friends  to  hear  him  speak  of 
leaving  the  world.  This  minds  me  of  a  pas- 
sage I  was  told  by  a  worthy  Scotch  minister, 
Mf.  Patrick  Adair,  that  visiting  the  famous 
Mr.  Durham  of  Glasgow,  in  his  last  sickness, 
which  was  long  and  lingering;  he  said  to 
him,  "  Sir,  I  hope  you  have  so  set  all  in  or- 
der, that  you  have  nothing  else  to  do  but  to 
die."  "I  bless  God  (said  Mr.  Durham)  I 
have  not  had  that  to  do  either  these  many 
years.'^  Such  is  the  comfort  of  dying  daily, 
vvhen  we  come  to  die  indeed. 

Mr.  Henry's  constitution  was  but  tender, 
and  yet  by  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his 
great  temperance  and  care  of  his  diet,  and 
moderate  exercise  by  walking  in  the  air,  he 
did  for  many  years  enjoy  a  good  measure  of 
health,  which  he  used  to  call,  "  The  sugar 
that  sweetens  all  temporal  mercies,"  for 
which  therefore  we  ought  to  be  very  thankful, 
and  of  which  we  ought  to  be  very  careful. 
He  had  sometimes  violent  fits  of  the  cholic, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


207 


which  would  be  very  afflictive  for  the  time. 
Towards  his  latter  end  he  was  distressed 
sometimes  with  a  pain,  which  his  doctor 
thought  might  arise  from  a  stone  in  his  kid- 
neys. Being  once  upon  the  recovery  from 
an  ill  fit  of  that  pain,  he  said  to  one  of  his 
friends  that  asked  him  how  he  did,  'Mie 
hoped,  by  the  grace  of  God,  he  should  now  be 
able  to  give  one  blow  more  to  the  devil's 
kingdom;"  and  often  professed,  "he  did  not 
desire  to  live  a  day  longer  than  he  might  do 
God  some  service."  He  said  to  another,  when 
he  perceived  himself  recovering,  "  Well,  I  ; 
thought  I  had  been  putting  into  the  har- 
bour, but  find  I  must  to  sea  again." 

He  was  sometimes  suddenly  taken  with 
fainting  fits,  which,  when  he  recovered  from, 
he  would  say, "  Dying  is  but  a  little  more." 

When  he  was  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his 
age,  which  is  commonly  called  the  Grand 
climacteric,  and  hath  been  to  many  the  dy- 
ing year,  and  was  so  to  his  father,  he  num- 
bered the  days  of  it,  from  August  24,  1693, 
to  August  25,  1694,  when  he  finished  it;  and 
when  he  concluded  it,  he  thus  wrote  in  his 
diary:  "This  day  finisheth  my  commonly 
dying  year,  which  I  have  numbered  the 


208 


LIFE  OF  THE 


days  of;  and  should  now  apply  my  heart 
more  than  ever  to  heavenly  wisdom."  He 
was  much  pleased  with  that  expression  of 
the  English  liturgy  in  the  office  of  burial, 
and  frequently  used  it:  ^' In  the  midst  of  life 
we  are  in  death.'^ 

The  infirmities  of  age,  when  they  grew 
upon  him,  did  very  little  abate  his  vigour  and 
liveliness  in  preaching,  but  he  seemed  even 
to  renew  his  youth  as  the  eagles;  as  those 
that  are  planted  in  the  house  of  the  Lord, 
who  still  bring  forth  fruit  in  old  age;  not  so 
much  to  show  that  they  are  upright,  as  to 
show  that  the  Lord  is  upright,  Psal.  xcii.  14, 
15.  But  in  his  latter  years,  travelling  was 
very  troublesome  to  him  ;  and  he  would  say, 
as  Mr.  Dod  used  to  do,  that  when  bethought 
to  shake  himself  as  at  other  times,  he  found 
his  hair  was  cut;  his  sense  of  this  led  him  to 
preach  an  occasional  sermon  not  long  before 
he  died,  on  John  xxi.  18,  ^'When  thou  wast 
young,  thou  girdest  thyself,'^  &c.  Another 
occasional  sermon  he  preached  when  he  was 
old,  for  his  own  comfort,  and  the  comfort  of 
his  aged  friends,  on  Psal.  Ixxi.  17,  18.  "0 
God,  thou  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth," 
&c.     He  observed  there,  that  it  is  a  blessed 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


209 


thing  to  be  taught  of  God  from  our  youth ; 
and  those  that  have  been  taught  of  God  from 
their  youth,  ought  to  declare  his  wondrous 
works  all  their  days  after.  And  those  that 
have  been  taught  of  God  from  their  youth, 
and  have  all  their  days  declared  his  won- 
drous works,  may  comfortably  expect,  that 
when  they  are  old  he  will  not  forsake  them. 
Christ  is  a  master  that  doth  not  use  to  cast 
off  his  old  servants. 

For  some  years  before  he  died,  he  used  to 
complain  of  an  habitual  weariness,  contract- 
ed, he  thought,  by  his  standing  to  preach, 
sometimes  very  uneasily,  and  in  inconve- 
nient places,  immediately  after  riding.  He 
would  say,  Every  minister  was  not  cut  out 
for  an  itinerant;  and  sometimes  the  manifest 
attention  and  affection  of  people  in  hearing, 
enlarged  him  both  in  length  and  fervency, 
somewhat  more  than  his  strength  could  well 
bear.  It  was  not  many  months  before  he 
died,  that  he  wrote  thus  to  a  dear  relation, 
who  inquired  solicitously  concerning  his 
health:  "  I  am  always  habitually  weary,  and 
expect  no  other  till  I  lye  down  in  the  bed  of 
spices."  And  (blessed  be  God)  so  the  grave 
is  to  all  the  saints,  since  He  lay  in  it  who  is 


210 


LIFE  OP  THE 


the  rose  of  Sharon,  and  the  lily  of  the  val- 
lies.  When  some  of  his  friends  persuaded 
him  to  spare  himself,  he  would  say,  "  It's 
time  enough  to  rest  when  I  am  in  the  grave; 
what  were  candles  made  for,  but  to  burn." 

It  doth  not  appear  that  he  had  any  parti- 
cular presages  of  his  death;  but  by  many  in- 
stances there  were  of  his  actual  gracious  ex- 
pectation of  it,  somewhat  more  than  ordinary 
for  some  time  before.  The  last  visit  he  made 
to  his  children  in  Chester,  was  in  July  1695, 
almost  a  year  before  he  died,  when  he  spent 
a  Lord's  day  there  and  preached  on  the  last 
verse  of  the  epistle  to  Philemon,  "  The  grace 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  your 
spirit."  By  grace  he  understood  not  so 
much  the  good  will  of  God  towards  us,  as 
the  good  work  of  God  in  ivs,  called  the  grace  * 
of  Christ,  both  because  he  is  the  author  and 
finisher  of  it,  and  because  he  is  the  pattern 
and  samplar  of  it.  Now  "the  choicest  gift 
we  can  ask  of  God  for  our  friend  is,  that 
this  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be 
with  their  spirit."  This  is  the  one  thing 
needful,  the  better  part,  the  root  of  the  mat- 
ter, the  whole  of  man,  the  principal  thing, 
the  more  excellent  way,  a  blessing  indeed, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


211 


and  the  thing  that  accompanies  salvation. 
The  grace  of  Christ  in  the  spirit,  enlightens 
and  enlivens  the  spirit,  softens  and  subdues 
the  spirit,  purifies  and  preserves  the  spirit, 
enlarges  and  guides  the  spirit,  sweetens  and 
strengthens  the  spirit,  and  therefore  what  can 
be  more  desirable.  A  spirit  without  the 
grace  of  Christ,  is  a  field  without  a  fence, 
a  fool  without  understanding;  it  is  a  horse 
without  a  bridle,  and  a  house  without  furni- 
ture; it  is  a  ship  without  tackle,  and  a  sol- 
dier without  armour;  it  is  a  cloud  without 
rain,  and  a  carcase  without  a  soul;  it  is  a  tree 
without  fruit,  and  a  traveller  without  a 
guide.  How  earnest  therefore  should  we 
be  in  praying  to  God  for  grace,  both  for  our- 
selves and  for  our  relations!  He  had  intend- 
ed to  preach  upon  that  text,  when  he  was  at 
Chester  the  year  before,  but  was  then  pre- 
vented, by  a  particular  sad  occasion,  which 
obliged  him  to  a  funeral  sermon.  Divine  Pro- 
vidence reserving  that  benediction  (which  his 
heart  was  much  upon)  for  his  valediction. 
The  Thursday  following  being  kept  as  a  fast 
in  his  son's  congregation  at  Chester,  he 
preached  on  Luke  xix.  41,  "He  beheld  the 
city,  and  wept  over  it;"  which  proved  his 


212 


LIFE  OF  THE 


farewell  to  the  town,  as  the  former  was  his 
farewell  to  his  friends  and  relations  in  it. 

It  was  not  many  weeks  before  he  died,  that 
he  wrote  thus  to  one  of  his  children:  "We 
are  well  here,  thanks  be  to  God,  and  are  glad, 
to  hear  that  you  and  yours  are  well  also, 
God  in  mercy  continue  if :  but  why  should 
we  be  well  always?  Do  we  deserve  it? 
Are  there  no  mixtures  in  our  obedience  ? 
Are  there  any  persons  or  families  at  whose 
door  sickness  and  death  never  knocked  ? 
Must  the  earth  be  forsaken  for  us,  or  the 
rock  removed  out  of  its  place  ?  Is  it  not 
enough  that  we  be  dealt  with  according  to 
the  manner  of  men,  and  that  we  have  a 
promise,  that  it  shall  end  well,  everlastingly 
well?" 

To  another  of  his  children,  about  the  same 
time,  he  writes,  "  We  are  sensible  that  we 
decline  apace,  but  the  best  of  it  is,  that  as 
lime  goes,  eternity  comes:  and  we  are  in 
good  hope,  through  grace,  that  it  will  be  a 
comfortable  eternity." 

It  was  in  April  1696,  a  few  weeks  before 
he  died,  that  his  son's  father-in-law,  Robert 
Warburton,  Esq.,  was  gathered  to  his  grave 
in  peace,  in  a  good  old  age.    Upon  the  ti- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


213 


dings  of  whose  death,  Mr.  Henry  wrote  thus 
to  his  son:  '-'Your  fathers,  where  are  they? 
your  father-in-law  gone,  and  your  own  fa- 
ther going;  but  you  have  a  God-father  that 
lives  for  ever.'^  He  was  wont  sometimes 
to  subscribe  his  letters,  your  ever-loving  but 
not  ever-living  father. 

It  was  not  a  month  before  he  died,  that,  in 
a  letter  to  his  very  dear  and  worthy  friend 
and  brother,  Mr.  Tallenrs  of  Shrewsbury,  he 
had  this  passage :  Meihinks  it  is  strange, 
that  it  should  be  your  lot  and  mine  to  abide  so 
long  on  earth  by  the  stuff,  when  so  many  of 
our  friends  are  dividing  the  spoils  above,  but 
God  will  have  it  so;  and  to  be  willing  to 
live  in  obedience  to  his  holy  will,  is  as  true 
an  act  of  grace,  as  to  be  willing  to  die  when 
he  calls,  especially  when  life  is  labour  and 
sorrow.  But  when  it  is  labour  and  joy,  ser- 
vice to  his  name,  and  some  measure  of  suc- 
cess and  comfort  in  serving  him  :  when  it  is 
to  stop  a  gap,  and  stem  a  tide,  it  is  to  be  re- 
joiced in;  'tis  heaven  upon  earth:  nay,  one 
would  think,  by  the  Psalmist's  oft  repeated 
plea,  Psal.  vi.  xxx.  Ixxxviii.  cxv.  and  cxviii. 
that  it  were  better  than  to  be  in  heaven  itself: 
and  can  that  be 


214 


LIFE  OF  THE 


A  Utile  before  his  sickness  and  death,  be- 
ing Slimmer  time,  he  had  several  of  his  chil- 
dren, and  his  children's  children  about  him, 
at  Broad  Oak,  with  whom  he  was  much 
refreshed,  and  very  cheerful;  but  ever  and 
anon  spoke  of  the  fashion  he  was  in,  as  pass- 
ing away;  and  often  told  them,  he  should  be 
there  but  a  while  to  bid  them  welcome. 
And  he  was  observed  frequently  in  prayer, 
to  beg  of  God,  that  "  he  would  make  us 
ready  for  that  which  would  come  certainly, 
and  might  come  suddenly."  One  asking 
him  how  he  did,  he  answered,  ^'I  find  the 
chips  fly  ofl"  apace,  the  tree  will  be  down 
shortly." 

The  last  time  he  administered  the  Lord's 
supper,  a  fortnight  before  he  died,  he  closed 
the  administration  with  that  Scripture,  1 
John  iii.  2,  "  It  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be  ;"  nor  yet,  but  it  will  shortly.  The 
Sabbath  but  one  before  he  died,  being  in,  the 
course  of  his  exposition,  come  to  that  difficult 
part  of  Scripture,  the  xl.  of  Ezekiel,and  the 
following  chapters,  he  said  he  would  endea- 
vour to  explain,  those  prophecies  to  them; 
and  added  "If  I  do  not  do  it  now,  I  never 
shall:"  and  he  observed,  that  the  only  pro- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


215 


phetical  sermon  which  oiir  Lord  Jesus 
preached,  was  but  a  few  days  before  he  died. 
This  many  of  his  hearers  not  only  reflected 
upon  afterwards,  but  took  notice  of  at  that 
time  with  a  concern,  as  having  something 
in  it  more  than  ordinary. 

On  the  Lord's  day,  June  21,  169G,  he 
went  through  the  work  of  the  day  with  his 
usual  vigour  and  liveliness.  He  was  then 
preaching  over  the  first  chapter  of  St.  Peter's 
second  epistle,  and  was  that  day  on  those 
words,  "  Add  to  your  faith  virtue,"  ver.  5. 
He  took  virtue  for  Christian  courage  and  re- 
solution in  the  exercise  of  faith;  and  the  last 
thing  he  mentioned  in  which  Christians  have 
need  of  courage,  is  in  dying;  "for  (as  he 
was  often  used  to  say)  it  is  a  serious  thing  to 
die,  and  to  die  is  a  work  by  itself"  That 
day  he  gave  notice,  both  morning  and  after- 
noon, with  much  affection  and  enlargement, 
of  the  public  fast,  which  was  appointed  by 
authority  the  Friday  following,  June  26, 
pressing  his  hearers,  as  he  used  to  do  upon 
such  occasions,  to  come  in  a  prepared  frame, 
to  the  solemn  services  of  that  day. 

The  Tuesday  following,  June  23,  he  rose 
at  six  o'clock,  according  to  his  custom,  after 


216 


LIFE  OP  THE 


a  better  night's  sleep  than  ordinary,  and  in 
wonted  health.  Between  seven  and  eight 
o'clock  he  performed  family  worship,  accor- 
ding to  the  usual  manner;  he  expounded 
very  largely  tlie  former  half  of  the  civ.  Psalm, 
and  sung  it;  but  he  was  somewhat  shorter 
in  prayer  than  he  used  to  be,  being  then  (as 
it  was  thought)  taken  ill.  Blessed  is  that 
servant,  whom  his  Lord,  when  he  comes, 
shall  find  so  doing.  Immediately  after  prayer 
he  retired  to  his  chamber,  not  saying  any 
thing  of  his  illness,  but  was  soon  after  found 
upon  his  bed  in  great  extremity  of  pain,  in 
his  back,  breast,  and  bowels;  it  seemed  to  be 
a  complicated  fit  of  the  stone  and  cholic  to- 
gether, in  very  great  extremity.  The  means 
that  had  been  used  to  give  him  relief  in  his 
illness  were  altogether  inetFectual;  he  had 
not  the  least  intermission  or  remission  of  pain, 
neither  up  nor  in  bed,  but  in  a  continual  toss. 
He  had  said  sometimes,  that  God's  Israel 
may  find  Jordan  rough ;  but  there's  no  re- 
medy, they  must  go  through  it  to  Canaan;  and 
would  tell  of  a  good  man  who  used  to  say,  he 
was  not  so  much  afraid  of  death  as  of  dying. 
We  know  they  are  not  the  godly  people, 
part  of  the  description  of  whose  condition  it 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


217 


is,  that  there  are  no  bands  in  their  death, 
and  yet  their  end  is  peace,  and  their  death 
gain,  and  they  have  hope  in  it.  In  this  ex- 
tremity he  was  still  looking  up  to  God,  and 
calling  upon  him,  who  is  a  present  help  in 
the  needtul  hour.  When  the  exquisiteness 
of  his  pain  forced  groans  and  complaints 
from  him,  he  would  presently  correct  him- 
self with  a  patieut  and  quiet  submission  to 
the  hand  of  his  heavenly  Father,  and  a  cheer- 
ful acquiescence  in  his  heavenly  will.  I 
am  ashamed  (says  he)  of  these  groans,  I 
want  virtue:  0  for  virtue  when  I  have  need 
of  it  (referring  to  his  subject  the  Lord's  day 
before)  forgive  me  that  I  groan  thus,  and  I 
will  endeavour  to  silence  them;  but  indeed 
my  stroke  is  heavier  than  my  groaning.''  It 
is  true,  what  ]\Ir.  Baxter  said  in  his  pain, 
There  is  no  disputing  against  sense.  It  was- 
his  trouble,  as  it  was  Mr.  Baxter's,  that  by 
reason  of  his  bodily  pain,  he  could  not  ex- 
press his  inward  comfort :  however  that  was 
it,  with  which  God  graciously  strengthened 
him  in  his  soul.  He  said  to  those  about  him: 
They  must  remember  what  instructions  and 
counsels  he  had  given  them  when  he  was  in 
health,  for  now  he  could  say  but  little  to 
19 

I 


218 


LIFE  OF  THE 


them,  only  to  refer  them  to  what  he  had  said, 
as  that  which  he  would  live  and  die  by. 

It  was  two  or  three  hours  after  he  was 
taken  ill,  before  he  would  suffer  a  messenger 
to  be  sent  to  Chester  for  his  son,  and  for  the 
doctor,  saying,  he  should  either  be  better  or 
dead,  before  they  could  come;  but  at  last  he 
said,  as  the  prophet  did  to  his  importunate 
friends,  Send.  About  eight  o'clock  that  even- 
ing they  came  and  found  him  in  the  same  ex 
tremity  of  pain  which  he  had  been  in  all  day. 
And  nature. being  before  spent  with  his  con- 
stant and  indefatigable  labours  in  the  work 
of  the  Lord,  now  sunk,  and  did  perfectly  suc- 
cumb under  its  burthen,  and  was  quite  dis- 
abled to  grapple  with  so  many  hours  inces- 
sant pain.  What  further  means  were  then 
used  proved  fruitless,  and  did  not  answer  the 
intention.  He  apprehended  himself  going 
apace,  and  said  to  his  son  when  he  came  in, 
"  0  son  you  are  welcome  to  a  dying  fa- 
ther: I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the 
time  of  my  departure  is  at  hand."  His  pain 
continued  very  acute,  but  he  had  peace  with- 
in. I  am  tormented  (said  he  once)  but  bless- 
ed be  God  not  in  this  flame ;  and  soon  after, 
"  I  am  all  on  fire,"  (when  at  the  same  time 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


219 


his  extreme  parts  were  cold)  but  he  present- 
ly added,  Blessed  be  God  it  is  not  the  fire  of 
hell.'^  To  sonae  of  his  next  neighbours  who 
came  into  see  him  (for  those  at  a  distance 
had  not  notice  of  his  illness)  he  said,  "  0 
make  sure  work  for  your  souls  by  getting  an 
interest  in  Christ  while  you  are  in  health; 
for  if  I  had  that  work  to  do  now,  what  would 
become  of  me  ?  but  I  bless  God  I  am  satis- 
fied." It  was  a  caution  he  was  often  wont  to 
give :  See  to  it  that  your  work  be  not  undone, 
when  your  time  is  done,  lest  you  be  undone 
for  ever. 

Towards  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  that  night, 
his  pulse  and  sight  began  to  fail;  of  the  lat- 
ter he  himself  took  notice,  and  inferred  from 
it  the  near  approach  of  his  dissolution. 

He  took  an  atfectionate  farewell  of  his  dear 
yoke-fellow,  with  a  thousand  thanks  for  all 
her  love  and  care,  and  tenderness ;  left  a  bless- 
ing for  all  his  dear  children,  and  their  dear 
yoke-fellows  and  little  ones  that  were  absent, 
he  said  to  his  son  who  sat  under  his  head, 
"  Son,  the  Lord  bless  you,  and  grant  that  you 
may  do  worthily  in  your  generation,  and  be 
more  serviceable  to  the  church  of  God  than 
I  have  been;"  such  was  his  great  humility 


220 


LIFE  OF  THE 


to  the  last.  And  when  his  son,  replied,  0 
sir,  pray  for  me  that  I  may  but  tread  in  your 
steps;  he  answered,  Yea,  follow  peace  and 
holiness,  and  let  them  say  what  they  will. 
More  he  would  have  said  to  bear  his  dying 
testimony  to  the  way  in  which  he  had  walk- 
ed, but  nature  was  spent,  and  he  had  not 
strength  to  express  it. 

His  understanding  and  speech  continued 
almost  to  the  last  breath,  and  he  was  still  in 
his  dying  agonies  calling  upon  God,  and  com- 
mitting himself  to  him.  One  of  the  last 
words  he  said,  when  he  found  himself  just 
ready  to  depart,  was:  "0  death,  where  is 

thy  ?"  with  that  his  speech  faltered. 

and  within  a  few  minutes  (after  about  six- 
teen hours  illness)  he  quietly  breathed  out 
his  precious  soul,  into  the  embraces  of  his 
dear  Redeemer,  whom  he  had  trusted,  and 
faithfully  served  in  the  work  of  the  ministry, 
^  about  forty-three  years.  He  departed  be- 
twixt twelve  and  one  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  June  24,  midsummer  day,  in  the  sixty-sixth 
year  of  his  age.  Happy,  thrice  happy  he,  to 
whom  such  a  sudden  change  was  no  sur- 
prise, and  who  could  triumph  over  death,  as 
an  unstung  disarmed  enemy,  even  when  he 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


221 


made  so  fierce  an  onset.  He  had  often  spoken 
of  it  as  his  desire,  that  if  it  were  the  will  of 
God,  he  might  not  outlive  his  usefulness; 
and  it  pleased  God  to  grant  him  his  desire, 
and  give  him  a  short  passage  from  the  pul- 
pit to  the  kingdom;  from  the  height  of  his 
usefulness,  to  receive  the  recompense  of  re- 
ward. So  was  it  ordered  by  Him  in  whose 
hands  our  times  are. 

After  the  account  we  have  given  of  his 
great  usefulness,  it  is  easy  to  imagine  what 
sorrow  and  mourning  there  was  among  his 
friends,  when  they  heard  that  the  Lord  had 
taken  away  their  master  from  their  head. 
One  that  lived  so  much  desired,  could  not 
but  die  as  much  lamented.  The  surprise  of 
the  stroke  put  people  into  a  perfect  astonish- 
ment; and  many  said,  The  Lord  removed 
him  so  suddenly,  because  he  would  not  deny 
the  many  prayers  that  would  have  been  put 
up  for  his  recovery,  had  it  been  known  that 
he  was  in  peril.  One  thing  that  aggravated 
this  severe  dispensation,  and  made  it  in  the 
apprehension  of  many  look  the  more  dismal, 
was,  this  powerful  intercessor  was  taken 
away  just  before  a  fast  day,  when  he  would 
have  been  wrestling  mightily  with  God  for 


222 


LIFE  OF  THE 


mercy  for  the  land.  However,  it  proved  a 
fast  day  indeed,  and  a  day  of  hunniliation  to 
that  congregation,  to  whom  an  empty  pulpit 
was  an  awakening  sermon.  The  Broad  Oak 
was  then  like  that  under  which  Rebekah's 
nurse  was  buried,  Gen.  xxxv.  8.  Allon  ba- 
cuth,  the  oak  of  weeping.  They  who  had 
many  a  time  sitten  with  dry  eyes,  under 
melting  ordinances,  could  not  sit  so  under 
such  a  melting  providence,  by  which  the 
Lord  God  called  so  loudly  to  weeping  and  to 
mourning,  and  to  girding  with  sackcloth. 
But  because  Mr.  Henry  had  been  wont  to 
give  it  for  a  rule,  that  weeping  must  not  hin- 
der sowing,  a  mite  was  cast  into  the  trea- 
sury of  the  nation's  prayers,  and  a  word 
spoken  to  bring  the  work  of  the  day,  and 
the  event  of  the  day  together,  from  2  Kings 
xiii.  20. 

The  day  following  being  Saturday,  June 
27,  the  earthen  vessel,  in  which  this  treasure 
had  been  lodged,  was  laid  up  in  the  grave  in 
Whitchurch  church,  attended  thither  with  a 
very  great  company  of  true  mourners,  all  the 
country  round;  many  from  Chester  and 
Shrewsbury,  and  the  towns  about,  came  to 
do  him  honour  at  his  death:  and,  besides  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


223 


floods  of  tears  that  were  shed,  there  were 
abundance  of  testimonies  given  to  him,  by 
persons  of  all  sorts,  Hke  that  to  Jehoiadah,  2 
Chron.  xxiv.  16.  That  he  was  one  that  had 
done  good  in  Israel.  And  there  were  those 
who  said,  he  was  a  man  that  nobody  did  or 
could  speak  evil  of,  except  for  his  non-con- 
formity. He  was  used  to  say  to  his  relations: 
When  I  am  dead,  make  little  ado  about  me; 
a  few  will  serve  to  bring  me  to  my  grave. 
But  his  mind  could  not  be  observed  in  that: 
'twas  impossible  such  a  burning  and  shining 
light  could  be  extinguished,  but  there  must 
be  a  universal  notice  taken  of  it.  Multitudes 
came  unsought ;  not  to  fill  their  eyes  (as  Mr. 
Vines  expresses  it)  but  to  empty  them ;  nor 
was  there  any  other  noise  there,  but  that  of 
general  lamentation. 

That  morning  before  the  removal  of  the 
corpse,  a  most  alfectionate  sermon  was 
preached  in  Mr.  Henry's  meeting  place,  by 
his  dear  and  worthy  friend  ^Ir.  Tallents  of 
Shrewsbury,  who  was  eleven  years  older 
than  he,  and  through  God's  goodness  still  sur- 
vives him.  He  was  willing  to  take  that  op- 
portunity, to  testify  the  great  love  and  hon- 


224 


LIFE  OF  THE 


our  that  he  had  for  Mr.  Henry,  whom  he 
called  a  friend  that  is  nearer  than  a  brother. 

The  next  day  being  Lord's  day,  Mr.  Owen 
of  Oswestry  preached  a  most  excellent  ser- 
mon in  the  morning,  agreeable  to  that  sad 
occasion,  upon  that  pathetic  farewell  which 
Elisha  gave  to  Elijah,  2  Kings  ii.  12,  "My 
father,  my  father,  the  chariots  of  Israel  and 
the  horsemen  thereof,  and  he  saw  him  no 
more;  and  he  took  hold  of  his  own  clothes, 
and  rent  them." 

In  the  afternon  of  that  Sabbath,  another 
sermon  was  preached  by  a  near  relation  of 
Mr.  Henry's  on  Heb.  xi.  4,  "  And  by  it,  he 
being  dead  yet  speaketh." 

Nor  was  it  at  home  only  but  from  abroad, 
that  very  honourable  testimonies  were  given 
of  him.  Sir  Henry  Ashurst  (whose  great 
worth  and  usefulness  the  world  hath  been 
made  to  know,  by  some  of  the  best  pens  of 
the  age)  besides  the  personal  acquaintance 
he  had  with  Mr.  Henry,  both  at  Borreatton 
and  in  London,  had  kept  up  a  constant  cor- 
respondence with  him,  by  letter,  for  many 
years.  Read  the  character  he  gave  of  him, 
in  a  letter  to  a  near  relation  of  Mr.  Henry's, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


225 


upon  the  tidings  of  his  death:  "I  need  not 
tell  you  how  sadly  I  received  the  doleful 
news  of  Mr.  Henry's  translation,  who,  I  do 
think,  lived  the  greatest  example  of  sincere 
godliness,  with  prudence  and  sweetness  of 
temper,  of  any  I  ever  knew."  And  in  ano- 
ther letter,  not  only  proposing,  but  pressing 
the  publication  of  an  account  of  his  life,  he 
professes,  he  thought  there  was  none  like 
him  in  his  day,  at  least  of  his  acquaintance, 
which  is  known  to  be  both  of  the  largest  and 
of  the  best:  "  And  (says  he)  if  Sir  Fulk  Gre- 
vil  would  have  it  inscribed  upon  his  tomb- 
stone, that  he  was  a  friend  to  Sir  Philip  Sid- 
ney, I  may  well  be  pleased  to  have  it  told  to 
the  world,  that  I  loved  and  honoured  blessed 
Mr.  Henry;  a  man  of  so  much  prudence, 
and  withal  so  much  sincerity,  of  so  good  a 
temper,  so  much  a  gentleman,  and  yet  of 
such  strict  piety  and  devotedness  to  God, 
that  I  scarce  ever  knew  his  fellow.'' 

Another  worthy  conformist,  of  his  acquain- 
tance, having  occasion  to  mention  him  in  a 
letter  to  a  friend,  calls  him  "  The  great,  good^ 
now  glorious  Mr.  Henry,  whose  memory 
(says  he)  shall  ever  be  precious,  and  even  sa- 
cred to  me." 

20 


226 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Such  as  these  were  the  honourable  testi- 
monies which  all  that  knew  him,  and  knew 
how  to  value  true  excellency,  attended  him 
with.  It  is  part  of  the  recompense  of  charity 
and  moderation  in  this  world,  that  it  obtains 
a  good  report  of  all  men.  The  kingdom  of 
God  (says  the  blessed  apostle,  Rom.  xiv.  17, 
18,)  is  not  meat  and  drink,  which  were  then 
the  matters  of  doubtful  disputation,  "  but 
righteousness,  and  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost:  and  he  that  in  these  things 
serve th  Christ  is  not  only  acceptable  to  God, 
but  approved  of  men;"  as,  on  the  contrary, 
they  that  judge  will  be  judged,  and  with  what 
measure  we  mete,  it  will  be  measured  to  us 
again.  And  this  is  the  excellency  of  a  good 
name,  that  it  is  out  of  the  reach  of  death,  and 
is  not  buried  in  the  grave,  but  rather  grows 
up  from  the  grave. 

It  is  not  for  nothing  Solomon  has  joined 
this  good  name,  which  is  better  than  precious 
ointment  with  the  day  of  one's  death,  which 
upon  that  account  is  better  than  the  day  of 
one's  birth,  that  it  completes  the  character  of 
those  that  finish  their  course  well,  and  are 
faithful  unto  death;  whereas  a  great  name, 
like  the  names  of  the  great  ones  of  the  earth, 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


227 


is  often  withered  and  blemished  by  death. 
We  read  of  those  that  "bear  their  shame 
when  they  go  down  to  the  pit,  though  they 
were  the  terror  of  the  mighty  in  the  land  of 
the  hving,"  Ezek.  xxxii.  35. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  dissenting  ministers  of 
Cheshire  at  Knutsford,  in  May,  1696,  (a  few 
weeks  before  Mr.  Henry  died)  it  was  agreed, 
that  their  next  meeting  should  be  at  Chester 
(thongh  inconvenient  to  many  of  them)  upon 
condition  that  he  would  meet  them  there, 
and  give  them  a  sermon.  It  was  with  much 
difficulty  that  he  was  prevailed  with  to  pro- 
mise it,  but  his  Master  called  for  him  before 
the  time  appointed  came.  Mr.  Flavel  of 
Devonshire  died  when  he  was  under  a  like 
appointment.  But  happy  they  that  are  come 
to  the  General  assembly,  and  church  of  the 
first  born,  and  to  the  spirits  of  just  men  made 
perfect." 

As  to  his  bodily  presence,  he  was  of  a  mid- 
dle stature,  his  complexion  not  approaching 
to  any  extreme,  of  a  very  pleasant  aspect, 
and  an  unusual  mixture  of  gravity  and  sweet- 
ness in  the  air  of  his  countenance,  which  was 
the  true  index  of  his  mind.  When  some  of 
his  friends  have  solicited  him  to  have  his  pic- 


228 


LIFE  OP  THE 


ture  drawn,  he  would  put  them  off  with 
this,  that  ^'the  best  picture  of  a  minister  is  in 
the  hearts  of  his  people." 


CHAPTER  X. 

A  miscellaneous  collection  of  some  of  his  sayings,  obser- 
vations, counsels  and  comforts,  out  of  his  seimons,  let- 
ters and  discourses. 

Mr.  Henry,  through  the  excess  of  his  mo- 
desty and  self  diffidence,  never  published  any 
of  his  labours  to  the  world,  nor  ever  fitted  or 
prepared  any  of  them  for  the  press;  and  yet 
none  more  valued  the  labours  of  others,  or 
rejoiced  more  in  them;  nor  have  I  heard  any 
complain  less  of  the  multitude  of  good  books, 
concerning  which  he  often  said,  that  store  is 
no  sore,  and  he  was  very  forward  to  per- 
suade others  to  publish ;  and  always  express- 
ed a  particular  pleasure  in  reading  the  lives, 
actions,  and  sayings  of  eminent  men,  ancient 
and  modern,  which  he  thought  the  most  use- 
ful and  instructive  kind  of  writings.  He  was 
also  a  very  candid  reader  of  books,  not  apt  to 
pick  quarrels,  with  what  he  read,  especially 
when  the  design  appeared  to  be  honest,  and 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


229 


when  others  would  find  fault,  and  say,  this 
was  wanting,  and  the  other  amiss,  his  usual 
excuse  was,  "  there  is  nothing  perfect  under 
the  sun." 

It  will  be  but  a  small  repair  of  this  want 
of  the  publishing  of  some  of  his  works,  (but 
I  doubt  it  will  prove  the  best  we  can  make,) 
to  glean  up  some  few  of  many  of  his  sayings, 
observations,  and  good  instructions  (as  his 
remains)  which  we  shall  not  marshal  in  any 
order,  but  give  them  as  they  occur,  besides 
those  which  have  been  already  inserted  into 
this  narrative. 

It  was  a  saying  he  frequently  used,  which 
has  been  mentioned  already,  that  "  Every 
creature  is  that  to  us,  and  only  that,  which 
God  makes  it  to  be:"  and  another  was, 
"Duty  is  ours,  events  are  God's:"  and  ano- 
ther was  "  The  soul  is  the  man,"  and  there- 
fore "  That  is  always  best  for  us,  which  is 
best  for  our  souls  :"  and  another  was,  <^  The 
devil  cozens  us  of  all  our  time,  by  cozening 
us  of  the  present  time." 

In  his  thanksgivings  for  temporal  mercies 
he  often  said,  "If  the  end  of  one  mercy  were 
not  the  beginning  of  another,  we  were  un- 
done:" and  to  encourage  to  the  work  of 


230 


LIFE  OF  THE 


thanksgiving  he  would  say,  that  "  new  mer- 
cies call  for  new  returns  of  praise,  and  then 
those  new  returns  will  fetch  in  new  mercies:" 
and  from  Psal.  1.  23,  "He  that  offers  praise 
glorifies  me,  and  to  him  that  orders  his 
conversation  aright — He  observed,  that 
thanksgiving  is  good,  but  thanks-living  is 
better. 

When  he  spoke  of  a  good  name,  he  usual- 
ly described  it  to  be  a  name  for  good  things 
with  good  people.  "  When  he  spoke  of  con- 
tentment, he  used  to  say,  "  When  the  mind 
and  the  condition  meet,  there's  contentment. 
Now  in  order  to  that,  either  the  condition 
must  be  brought  up  to  the  mind,  and  that  is 
not  only  unreasonable  but  impossible;  for  as 
the  condition  rises,  the  mind  rises  with  it; 
or  else  the  mind  must  be  brought  down  to 
the  condition,  and  that  is  both  possible  and 
reasonable.  And  he  observed,  that  no  con- 
dition of  life  will  of  itself  make  a  man  con- 
tent, without  the  grace  of  God;  for  we  find 
Haman  discontented  in  the  court,  Ahab  dis- 
contented on  the  throne,  Adam  discontented 
in  Paradise,  nay  (and  higher  we  cannot  go) 
the  angels  that  fell  discontented  in  heaven 
itself.'' 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRr. 


231 


The  three  questions  which  he  advised  peo- 
ple to  put  to  themselves  in  self-examination 
before  the  sacrament,  were,  What  am  I  ? 
What  have  I  done?  and  What  do  I  want? 

He  used  to  recommend  to  his  friends  these 
four  Scripture  arguments  against  sin,  ex- 
pressed for  memory's  sake  in  four  verses,  to 
be  ready  in  an  hour  of  temptation. 

Is  this  thy  kindness  to  thy  friend? 
It  will  be  bitterness  in  the  end. 
The  vows  of  God  upon  me  lie  ; 
Should  such  a  man  as  I  am  fly  ? 

He  said  there  were  four  things  which  he 
would  not  for  all  the  world  have  against  him, 
The  word  of  God,  his  own  conscience,  the 
prayers  of  the  poor,  and  the  account  of  god- 
ly ministers. 

"  He  that  hath  a  blind  conscience  which 
sees  nothing,  a  dead  conscience  which  feels 
nothing,  and  a  dumb  conscience  which  says 
nothing,  is  in  as  miserable  a  condition  as  a 
man  can  be  in  on  this  side  hell." 

Preaching  on  1  Pet.  i.  6,  "  If  need  be  you 
are  in  heaviness.'^  He  showed  what  need 
the  people  of  God  have  of  afflictions.  "  The 
same  that  our  bodies  have  of  physic,  that 


232 


LIFE  OF  THE 


our  trees  have  of  pruning,  that  gold  and  sil- 
ver have  of  the  furnace,  that  liquors  have  of 
being  emptied  from  vessel  to  vessel,  that  the 
iron  hath  of  a  file,  that  the  fields  have  of  a 
hedge,  that  the  child  has  of  the  rod." 

Preaching  on  that  prayer  of  Christ  for  his 
disciples,  John  xvii.  21.  "That  they  all  may 
be  one,"  which  no  doubt  is  an  answered 
prayer,  for  the  Father  heard  him  always,  he 
showed,  "That  notwithstanding  the  many 
sad  divisions  that  are  in  the  church,  yet  all 
the  saints  as  far  as  they  are  sanctified,  are 
one;  one  in  relation,  one  flock,  one  family, 
one  building,  one  body,  one  bread:  one  by 
representation,  one  in  image  and  likeness,  of 
one  inclination  and  disposition:  one  in  their 
aims,  one  in  their  askings,  one  in  amity  and 
friendship,  one  in  interest,  and  one  in  their 
inheritance;  nay,  they  are  one  in  judgment 
and  opinion;  though  in  some  things  they 
differ,  yet  those  things  in  which  they  are 
agreed  are  many  more,  and  much  more  con- 
siderable than  those  things  wherein  they  dif- 
fer. They  are  all  of  a  mind  concerning  sin, 
that  it  is  the  worst  thing  in  the  world;  con- 
cerning Christ  that  he  is  all  in  all ;  concern- 
ing the  favour  of  God,  that  it  is  better  than 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


233 


life;  concerning  the  world, that  it  is  vanity; 
concerning  the  word  of  God  that  it  is  very- 
precious,"  &c. 

Preaching  on  Gal.  i.  16,  concerning  the 
conversion  of  Paul,  he  began  his  sermon 
with  this  remark,  to  raise  attention:  much  is 
said  in  story  concerning  the  seven  wonders 
of  the  world,  the  Temple  of  Ephesus,  the  Py- 
ramids of  Egypt,  the  Tombs  of  Mausoleus, 
&c.,all  of  which  are  now  no  more;  but  I 
have  been  sometimes  thinking,  whether  I 
could  not  name  seven  things  which  I  would 
call  the  seven  wonders  of  the  church;  and 
and  what  do  you  think  of  these  seven  ?  are 
they  not  wonderful.^  1.  Our  redemption  by 
Jesus  Christ,  who  is  called  Wonderful;  2. 
The  salvation  of  Noah  in  the  Ark;  3.  The 
faith  of  Abraham  in  offering  up  Isaac;  4. 
The  patience  of  Job;  5.  The  providences  of 
God  towards  the  nation  and  people  of  the 
Jews;  6.  The  pouring  out  of  the  Spirit  upon 
the  Apostles;  7.  The  conversion  of  Paul. 

But  it  would  be  endless  to  gather  up  such 
passages  as  these  out  of  his  sermons,  which 
were  full  of  them,  and  we  mention  these 
only  because  they  occur  first. 

He  used  to  observe  concerning  the  nation 


234 


LIFE  OF  THE 


of  the  Jews,  that  before  the  captivity  in 
Babylon,  no  people  could  be  more  strongly 
addicted  to  idols  and  idolatry  than  they 
were,  to  admiration,  considering  what  clear 
warnings  they  had  against  it.  But  after  that 
captivity,  never  was  any  people  more  averse 
to  idols  and  idolatry  than  they,  that  the  pro- 
mise might  be  fulfilled,  Ephraim  shall  say, 
What  have  I  to  do  any  more  with  idols? 
and  he  looked  upon  it,  that  the  idolatry  of 
the  papists  was  one  of  the  greatest  obstruc- 
tions to  the  Jews'  conversion,  which  he  did 
expect  and  look  for,  as  not  apprehending 
how  the  promises,  Rom.  xi.  have  yet  had 
their  full  accomplishment;  not  that  they 
shall  again  be  incorporated  into  a  people, 
but  shall  join  themselves  to  the  churches  of 
Christ,  in  the  several  nations  whither  they 
be  scattered. 

The  great  thing  that  he  condemned  and 
witnessed  against  in  the  church  of  Rome, 
was  their  monopolizing  of  the  church,  and 
condemning  all  that  are  not  in  with  their  in- 
terests, which  is  so  directly  contrary  to  the 
spirit  of  the  gospel  as  nothing  can  be  more. 
He  sometimes  said,  "  I  am  too  much  a  catho- 
lic to  be  a  Roman  catholic.'' 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


235 


By  the  institutions  of  the  gospel  (he  said) 
he  knew  of  no  holy  place,  one  holy  day,  two 
holy  sacraments,  and  four  holy  canons.  Let 
all  things  be  done  in  charity;  let  all  things  be 
done  to  edifying:  let  all  things  be  done  de- 
cently and  in  order:  and  let  all  things  be 
done  to  the  glory  of  God. 

In  the  observations  he  made  of  God's 
providences,  he  frequently  took  notice  in 
discourse  with  his  friends,  of  the  fulfilling  of 
the  Scripture  in  them;  for  (says  he)  the 
Scripture  has  many  accomplishments,  and  is 
in  the  fulfilling  every  day.  Speaking  of  a 
wicked  son  in  the  neighbourhood  that  was 
very  undutiful  to  his  mother,  he  charged 
some  of  his  children  to  observe  the  provi- 
dence of  God  concerning  him;  perhaps  (says 
he)  I  may  not  live  to  see  it,  but  do  you  take 
notice,  whether  God  do  not  come  upon  him 
with  some  remarkable  judgment  in  this  life, 
according  to  the  threatening  implied  in  the 
reason  annexed  to  the  fifth  commandment: 
but  he  himself  lived  to  see  it  fulfilled  not 
long  after,  in  a  very  signal  providence. 

He  observed  from  Scripture  instances,  as 
well  as  from  some  providences  which  he  had 
taken  notice  of  in  his  own  day,  That  if  any 


236 


LIFE  OP  THE 


began  well  in  the  ways  of  religion  and  godli- 
ness, and  afterwards  cast  off  their  profession, 
and  returned  to  profaneness  again,  usually 
God  sets  a  mark  of  his  displeasure  upon 
them,  by  some  visible  judgment  in  this 
world;  their  estates  ruined,  their  reputation 
blasted,  their  families  sunk,  or  themselves 
brought  to  misery;  so  that  all  who  passed  by 
might  say,  This  was  an  apostate.  "  If  any 
man  draw  back,  my  soul  shall  have  no  plea- 
sure in  him." 

He  observed  from  Numb.  x.  12.  "That  all 
our  removes  in  this  world,  are  but  from  one 
wilderness  to  another.''  Upon  any  change 
that  is  before  us,  we  are  apt  to  promise  our- 
selves a  Canaan,  but  we  shall  be  deceived,  it 
will  prove  a  wilderness. 

Once  pressing  the  study  of  the  Scriptures, 
he  advised  to  take  a  verse  of  Psalm  cxix. 
every  morning  to  meditate  upon,  and  so  go 
over  the  psalm  twice  in  the  year,  and  that 
(said  he)  will  bring  you  to  be  in  love  with 
all  the  rest  of  the  Scripture;  and  he  often 
said,  "All  grace  grows,  as  love  to  the  word 
of  God  grows." 

One  asking  his  advice,  what  to  do  when 
(as  often  unavoidably)  we  are  in  the  sight 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


237 


and  hearing  of  the  wickedness  of  the  wicked, 
and  whether  we  are  to  reprove  them;  why 
(says  he)  you  know  what  an  angry  counte- 
nance does,  and  we  may  sometimes  give  a 
reproof  by  our  looks,  when  we  have  not  op- 
portunity of  giving  it  otherwise. 

He  would  not  bear  that  any  should  be  evil 
spoken  of  in  his  hearing,  it  was  to  him  as  vine- 
gar to  the  teeth.  He  would  remind  those  who 
reflected  upon  people  behind  their  backs,  of 
that  law,  Lev.  xix.  14,  "Thou  shalt  not 
curse  the  deaf.'^  Those  that  are  absent  are 
deaf,  they  cannot  right  themselves,  and  there- 
fore say  no  ill  of  them.  A  friend  of  his  in- 
quiring of  him  concerning  a  matter  which 
tended  to  reflect  upon  some  people ;  he  be- 
gan to  give  an  account  of  the  story,  but  im- 
mediately broke  off",  and  checked  himself 
with  these  words,  "  But  our  rule  is,  to  speak 
evil  of  no  man,'^and  would  proceed  no  fur- 
ther in  the  story.  It  was  but  a  week  before 
he  died,  that  one  desired  him  to  lend  him 
such  a  book;  "Truly  (says  he)  I  would  lend 
it  you,  but  that  it  rakes  in  the  faults  of  some, 
which  should  rather  be  covered  with  a  man- 
tle of  love."  It  were  easy  to  multiply  in- 
stances of  this. 


238 


LIFE  OF  THE 


To  quicken  people  to  diligence  and  liveli- 
ness in  the  worship  of  God,  he  would  some- 
times observe,  that  the  temple  was  built 
upon  a  threshing  floor,  a  place  of  labour. 
He  would  also  urge,  that  in  answer  to  those 
who  turned  it  to  his  reproach,  that  his  meet- 
ing-place had  been  a  barn;  no  new  thing 
(would  he  say)  to  turn  a  threshing  floor  into 
a  temple. 

When  some  zealous  people  in  the  country 
would  have  him  to  preach  against  top-knots, 
and  other  vanities  in  apparel,  he  would  say, 
that  was  none  of  his  business;  if  he  could 
but  persuade  people  to  Christ,  the  pride  and 
vanity  and  excess  of  those  things  would  fall 
of  course:  and  yet  he  had  a  dislike  to  vanity 
and  gaiety  of  dress,  and  allowed  it  not  in 
those  that  he  had  influence  upon.  His  rule 
was,  that  in  such  things  we  must  neither  be 
owls  nor  apes;  not  affect  singularity,  nor 
affect  modishness;  nor  (as  he  used  lo  observe 
from  1  Pet.  iiL  3.)  make  the  putting  on  of 
apparel  our  adorning,  because  Christians 
have  better  things  to  adorn  themselves  with. 
When  some  complained  to  him  of  a  relation 
of  theirs,  that  would  not  let  them  dress  his 
children  with  ribbands,  and  other  fine  things. 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRT. 


239 


"why  truly  (said  Mr.  Henry)  those  things 
are  fit  for  children;'^  therehy  reproving  both 
him  that  would  not  allow  them  to  his  chil- 
dren, and  them  that  perhaps  minded  them 
too  much  themselves. 

He  often,  both  in  sermons  and  discourses, 
would  press  people  to  fix  to  themselves  some 
good  principles,  and  to  come  off  from  the  cor- 
rupt and  carnal  principles  that  worldly  people 
go  by.  He  took  all  occasions  to  recommend 
such  principles  as  these :  "That  God  who  is  the 
first  and  best,  should  have  the  first  and  best; 
that  a  part  in  Christ  is  a  good  part ;  that  soul 
prosperity  is  the  best  prosperity,  and  that  it 
is  well  or  ill  with  us,  according  as  it  is  well 
or  ill  with  our  souls;  that  honesty  is  the  best 
policy;  that  those  that  would  have  the  com- 
fort of  relations,  must  be  careful  to  do  the 
duty  of  them;  that  all  is  well  that  ends  ever- 
lastingly well;  that  time  and  the  things  of 
time,  are  nothing  compared  with  eternity  and 
the  things  of  eternity;  that  it  is  better  to 
suffer  the  greatest  affliction  than  to  commit 
the  least  sin ;  that  it  highly  concerns  us  to 
do  that  now,  which  we  shall  most  wish  we 
had  done  when  we  come  to  die;  that  work 
for  God  is  its  own  wages;  that  it  is  folly  for 


240 


LIFE  OP  THE 


a  man  to  do  that  which  he  must  certainly 
undo  again  by  repentance,  or  be  undone  to 
all  eternity."  Such  as  these  were  the  prin- 
ciples he  would  have  Christians  to  govern 
themselves  by. 

Speaking  of  the  causes  of  atheism,  he  had 
this  observation;  "That  a  head  full  of  vain 
and  unprofitable  notions,  meeting  with  a 
heart  full  of  pride  and  self-conceitedness,  dis- 
pose a  man  directly  to  be  an  atheist." 

He  said  he  had  observed  concerning  him- 
self, that  he  was  sometimes  the  worse  for 
eating,  but  never  for  abstinence;  sometimes 
the  worse  for  wearing  too  few  clothes,  but 
never  for  wearing  too  many;  sometimes 
the  worse  for  speaking,  but  never  for  keep- 
ing silence. 

As  to  his  letters^  he  was  very  free  in  wri- 
ting to  his  friends.  A  good  letter,  he  would 
say,  may  perhaps  do  more  good  than  a  good 
sermon,  because  the  address  is  more  particu- 
lar, and  that  which  is  written  remains.  His 
language  and  expressions  in  his  letters  were 
always  pious  and  heavenly,  and  seasoned 
with  the  salt  of  grace;  and  when  there  was 
occasion,  he  would  excellently  administer 
counsels,  reproofs,  or  comforts  by  letter.  He 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


241 


kept  no  copies  of  his  letters,  and  it  is  impos- 
sible if  we  should  attempt  it,  to  retrieve  them 
from  the  hands  into  which  they  were  scatter- 
ed. Mr.  Rutherford's  and  Mr.  Allen's  letters, 
that  (like  some  of  the  most  excellent  of  Paul's 
epistles)  bore  date  out  of  a  prison,  have  a 
mighty  tincture  of  their  peculiar  prison  com- 
forts and  enlargements;  we  have  none  such 
to  produce  of  Mr.  Henry's,  no  pastoral  letters 
or  prison  letters;  he  was  himself,  in  his 
whole  conversation,  an  epistle  of  Christ. 
But  we  shall  only  glean  up  some  passages 
out  of  such  of  his  letters  as  are  in  our  hands, 
which  may  be  affecting  and  edifying. 

To  his  son,  when  he  was  abroad  for  im- 
provement at  London,  in  the  year  1685,  and 
1686,  with  the  common  business  of  his  let- 
ters, which  was  always  written  with  a  savour 
of  religion,  he  would  intermix  such  lines  as 
these  :  "  We  are  all  well  here,  thanks  be  to 
God,  the  Divine  providence  watching  about 
our  tabernacle,  and  compassing  us  about  with 
favour,  as  with  a  shield.  Our  great  inquiry 
is,  What  shall  we  render?  alas!  our  render- 
ings are  nothing  to  our  receivings;  we  are 
like  the  barren  field,  on  which  much  cost  is 
bestowed,  but  the  crop  is  not  accordingly. 
21 


242 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Our  heavenly  Father  is  loading  us  with  his 
benefits,  and  we  are  loading  him  with  our 
sins;  grieving  him  that  comforts  us;  and 
how  long  shall  it  be  so?  0  that  it  might  be 
otherwise  ?  that  our  mercies  might  be  as  oil 
to  the  wheels,  to  make  us  so  much  the  more 
active  and  lively  in  our  Master's  work,  espe- 
cially considering  how  it  is  with  our  fellow 
servants;  they  empty  and  we  fill,  they  Ma- 
rah  and  we  Naomi.  There  may  a  day 
come,  when  it  may  cost  dear  to  be  honest, 
but  after  all,  to  fear  God  and  keep  his  com- 
mandments, is  the  whole  of  man.  I  there- 
fore commend  it  to  you,  and  you  to  God, 
who  is  a  shield  and  a  buckler  to  them  that 
fear  him. 

"  We  are  well,  but  in  daily  expectation  of 
that  which  we  are  born,  and  born  again  to, 
and  that  is  trouble  in  this  world,  yet  rejoic- 
ing in  hope  of  the  glory  of  God,  which  we 
are  reaching  after,  and  pressing  towards,  as 
we  trust  you  are  also.  Where  you  are,  you 
see  more  of  the  gliTtering  vanities  of  this 
world  in  a  day,  than  we  do  here  in  an  age; 
and  are  you  more  and  more  in  love  with 
them,  or  dead  and  dying  to  them?  I  hope 
dead  and  dying  to  them,  for  they  are  poor 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


243 


things  and  perish  in  the  using;  make  many- 
worse  that  enjoy  them,  but  none  better. 
What  is  translated  Vexation  of  spirit,  Eccl.  i. 
2.  may  be  read,  Feeding  upon  wind,  Hos.  xii. 
1.  and  can  wind  satisfy?  the  Lord  preserve 
and  keep  you  from  all  evil,  the  Lord  preserve 
and  keep  your  soul.  We  both  send  you  our 
love,  and  bless  you  together  and  apart,  every 
day,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord.  Amen  and 
Amen. 

"Be  sincere,  and  humble,  and  choice  in 
your  company,  always  either  getting  good 
or  doing  good,  gathering  in  or  laying  out. 
Remember  to  keep  the  heart  with  all  dili- 
gence and  above  all  keepings,  for  there  the 
fountain  is,  and  if  that  be  well  kept  and  clean, 
the  streams  will  be  accordingly. 

"'Tis  some  short  refreshment  to  friends 
and  relations,  to  see  and  hear  from  one  an- 
other, but  it  passeth  away,  and  we  have 
here  no  continuing  city,  no  abiding  delights 
in  this  world;  our  rest  remains  elsewhere; 
those  we  have  lose  much  of  their  sweetness, 
from  the  thoughts  of  parting  with  them  while 
we  enjoy  them,  but  the  happiness  to  come  is 
eternal.  After  millions  of  millions  of  ages 
(if  we  may  so  speak  of  eternity)  as  far  from 


244 


LIFE  OF  THE 


an  end  as  the  first  moment;  and  the  last  of 
glory  will  be  glory  (so  some  read  Prov.  xxv. 
27,)  keep  that  in  your  eye,  my  dear  child, 
and  it  will  as  much  as  any  thing  dazzle  your 
eyes,  to  all  the  fading  deceiving  vanities  of 
this  lower  world;  and  will  be  a  quickening 
motive  to  you,  to  abound  always  in  the 
work  of  the  Lord,  forasmuch  as  you  know 
your  labour  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 
The  Lord  bless  you,  who  blesses  indeed. 

"  See  that  you  walk  circumspectly,  not  as 
the  fools,  but  as  the  wise;  many  eyes  are 
upon  you,  his  especially,  who  is  all  eye; 
Cave,  Deus  videt.  Memento  hoc  agere; 
our  blessing  with  1  Chron.  xxviii.  9. 

"  The  same  which  is  yet  the  prologue  of 
yours,  is  of  ours  also.  Omnia  bene,  laus 
Deo!  but  he  that  girdeth  on  the  harness, 
must  not  boast  as  he  that  puts  it  off.  While 
the  world  we  live  in  is  under  the  moon, 
constant  in  nothing  but  inconstancy :  and 
such  changes  are  made  in  other  families, 
why  should  we  alone  promise  ourselves  im- 
munity from  the  common  lot?  there  would 
be  no  need  of  faith  and  patience,  which  are 
winter  graces,  if  it  should  be  always  sum- 
mer time  with  us.  We  have  three  unchange- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


245 


ables  to  oppose  to  all  other  mutabilities;  an 
unchangeable  covenant,  au  unchangeable 
God,  and  an  unchangeable  heaven :  and  while 
these  three  remain  the  same,  yesterday,  to- 
day, and  for  ever:  welcome  the  will  of  our 
heavenly  Father  in  all  events  that  may  hap- 
pen to  us:  come  what  will,  nothing  can 
come  amiss  to  us. 

"Keep  the  invisible  things  of  the  other 
world  always  in  your  eye.  He  that  ven- 
tures the  loss  of  an  eternal  crown  and  king- 
dom, for  a  cup  or  two  of  puddle  water  (such 
as  all  terrene  pleasures  in  comparison  are) 
makes  a  bargain,  which  no  less  a  space  than 
that  which  is  everlasting  will  be  sulBcient  to 
bewail  and  repent  of.  How  much  better  is 
it  to  lay  up  in  store  now  a  good  foundation 
for  time  to  come,  and  to  lay  hold  on  eter- 
nal life?  doing  those  works  which  we  would 
be  willing  should  hereafter  follow  us,  yet 
still  making  the  blessed  Jesus  our  all  in  all. 

"  The  further  progress  you  make  in  your 
studies,  you  will  find  them  the  easier;  'tis  so 
with  religion,  the  worst  is  at  first.  It  is  like 
the  picture  that  frowned  at  first  entrance, 
but  afterwards  smiles  and  looks  pleasant. 
They  that  walk  in  sinful  ways,  meet  with 


246 


LIFE  OF  THE 


some  difficulties  at  first,  which  custom  con- 
quers, and  they  become  as  nothing.  'Tis 
good  accustoming  ourselves  to  that  which  is 
good.  The  more  we  do,  the  more  we  may- 
do  in  religion.  Your  acquaintance  (I  doubt 
not)  increases  abroad,  and  accordingly  your 
watch  must  be:  for  by  that  oftentimes  ere 
we  are  aware,  we  are  ensnared.  He  that 
walketh  with  wise  men  shall  be  wise. 

"  The  return  of  the  spring  invites  our 
thanksgiving  for  the  mercy  of  it.  The  birds 
are  singing  early  and  late  according  to  their 
capacity,  the  praises  of  their  Creator ;  but 
man  only,  that  has  most  cause,  finds  some- 
thing else  to  do.  'Tis  redeeming  love  that 
is  the  most  admirable  love ;  less  than  an 
eternity  will  not  suffice  to  adore  it  in.  Lord, 
how  is  it!  Lord,  what  is  man!  as  the 
streams  lead  to  the  fountain,  so  should  all 
our  mercies  lead  us  to  that.  We  both  of  us 
send  you  our  most  affectionate  love  and 
blessing:  blessing?  that  is,  we  pray  and  be- 
seech the  most  blessed  God,  even  our  own 
God,  to  give  you  his  blessing,  for  he  only 
can  command  the  blessing;  and  those  whom 
he  blesses  are  blessed  indeed.  Let  us  still 
hear  to  our  comfort,  that  you  walk  in  the 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


247 


truth,  living  above  the  things  of  the  world, 
as  dead  to  them.  The  Lord  in  mercy  fit  us 
for  his  will  in  the  next  providence,  public 
and  personal,  for  time  is  always  teeming. 

"Your  improvement  is  our  joy.  Be  sin- 
cere and  serious,  clothed  with  humility, 
abounding  always  in  the  work  of  the  Lord  ; 
and  when  you  have  done  all,  saying  I  am 
an  unprofitable  servant.  'Twas  the  good 
advice  of  the  moral  philosopher.  In  your 
converse  with  men,  distrust;  but  I  must 
add,  in  every  thing  towards  God,  believe. 
Expect  temptation  and  a  snare  at  every  turn, 
and  walk  accordingly.  We  have  a  good 
cause,  a  vanquished  enemy,  a  good  second, 
and  extraordinary  pay;  for  he  that  over- 
comes needs  not  desire  to  be  more  happy 
than  the  second  and  third  of  the  revelation 
speaks  him  to  be.  The  God  of  all  mercy 
and  grace  compass  you  about  always  with 
his  favour  as  with  a  shield! 

"  I  would  have  you  redeem  time,  for  hear- 
ing the  word  in  season,  and  out  of  season ; 
your  other  studies  will  prosper  never  the 
worse,  especially  if  you  could  return  imme- 
diately from  the  closet  again,  with  cooling 
divertisements  by  the  way. 


248 


LIFE  OF  THE 


See  your  need  of  Christ  more  and  more, 
and  live  upon  him;  no  life  like  it,  so  sweet, 
so  safe.  Christ  lis  meus  miki  in  omnia. 
We  cannot  be  discharged  from  the  guilt  of 
any  evil  we  do,  without  his  merit  to  satisfy: 
we  cannot  move  in  the  performance  of  any 
good  required,  without  his  Spirit  and  grace 
to  assist  and  enable  for  it;  and  when  we 
have  done  all,  that  all  is  nothing,  without  his 
mediation  and  intercession  to  make  it  accep- 
table; so  that  every  day,  in  every  thing,  he 
is  all  in  all.  Though  you  are  at  a  distance 
from  us  now,  we  rejoice  in  the  good  hope 
we  have  through  grace,  of  meeting  again  in 
the  land  of  the  living,  that  is,  on  earth,  if 
God  see  good;  however  in  heaven,  which  is 
the  true  land  of  the  truly  living,  and  is  best 
of  all.  The  Lord  God  everlasting  be  your 
sun  and  shield  in  all  your  ways:  see  time 
hasting  away  apace  towards  eternity,  and 
the  Judge  even  at  ihe  door,  and  work  accord- 
ingly, wherever  you  are,  alone  or  in  com- 
pany; be  always  either  doing  or  getting 
good,  sowing  or  reaping.  As  for  me,  I  make 
no  other  reckoning,  but  that  the  time  of  my 
departure  is  at  hand,  and  what  trouble  I 
may  meet  with  before,  I  know  not,  the  will 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


249 


of  the  Lord  be  done  :  one  of  my  chief  cares 
is,  that  no  iniquity  of  mine  may  be  laid  up 
for  you,  which  God  grant  for  his  mercy's  sake 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Amen. 

"Be  careful  of  your  health.  Remember 
the  rule,  Venienti  occurrere;  but  especially 
neglect  not  the  main  matter.  The  soul  is 
the  main;  if  that  do  well,  all's  well.  Wor- 
ship God  in  the  spirit;  rejoice  in  Christ  Jesus, 
and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh.  God 
be  gracious  unto  thee,  my  son;  redeem  time, 
especially  for  your  soul:  expect  trouble  in 
this  world,  and  prepare  for  it ;  expect  happi- 
ness in  the  other  world,  and  walk  worthy  of 
it,  unto  all  pleasing. 

"  A  good  book  is  a  good  companion  at  any 
time,  but  especially  a  good  God,  who  is  al- 
ways ready  to  hold  communion  with  those 
that  desire  and  seek  communion  with  him. 
Keep  low  and  humble  in  your  thoughts  and 
opinion  of  yourself;  but  aim  high  ni  your 
desires  and  expectations,  even  as  high  as  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  itself,  and  resolve  to  take 
up  with  nothing  short  of  it.  The  Lord  guide 
you  in  all  your  ways,  and  go  in  and  out  be- 
fore you,  and  preserve  you  blameless  to  his 
heavenly  kingdom." 

23 


250 


LIFE  OF  THE 


Immediately  after  his  son  was  ordained  to 
the  work  of  the  ministry  at  London,  in  the 
year  1687,  he  thus  wrote  to  him:  "Are  you 
now  a  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  ?  hath  he  count- 
ed you  faithful,  putting  you  into  the  ministry  ? 
then  be  faithful;  out  of  love  to  him  feed  his 
lambs;  as  a  workman  that  needs  not  to  be 
ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.  I 
hope  what  you  experienced  of  the  presence  of 
God  with  you  in  the  solemnity,  has  left  upon 
you  a  truly  indelible  character  and  such  im- 
pressions, as  neither  time  nor  any  thing  else 
shall  be  able  to  wear  out.  Remember  Psalm 
Ixxi.  16.  It  is  in  the  eye  of  sense  a  bad  time 
to  set  out  in;  but  in  sowing  and  reaping, 
clouds  and  wind  must  not  be  heeded.  The 
work  is  both  comfortable  and  honourable, 
and  the  reward  rich  and  sure :  and  if  God 
be  pleased  to  give  opportunity  and  a  heart, 
though  there  may  be  trouble  attending  it, 
it  will  be  easily  borne.  If  we  suffer  with 
him  we  shall  also  reign  with  him.  I  am 
and  shall  be,  according  to  my  duty  and  pro- 
mise, earnest  at  the  throne  of  grace  on  your 
behalf,  that  the  Lord  will  pour  out  upon  you 
of  his  Holy  Spirit,  that  what  he  calls  you  to, 
he  would  fit  you  for;  especially  that  he 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


251 


would  take  you  off  your  own  bottom,  and 
lay  you  low  in  the  sense  of  your  own  ur\- 
worthiness,  inability,  and  insufficiency,  that 
you  may  say  with  the  evangelical  prophet, 
Wo  is  me,  I  am  undone !  and  with  Jeremiah 
I  am  a  child;  and  with  Paul,  I  am  nothing. 
Where  this  is  not,  the  main  thing  is  wanting; 
for  God  resists  the  proud,  but  gives  grace  to 
the  humble.  Now  the  Lord  give  you  that 
grace  to  be  humble  ;  and  then,  according  to 
his  promise,  he  will  make  you  rich  in  every 
other  grace.'' 

On  occasion  of  affliction  in  the  families  of 
his  children  by  the  sickness  or  death  of  chil- 
dren, or  otherwise,  he  always  wrote  some 
word  in  season. 

"  In  the  furnace  again?  (says  he)  but  a 
good  friend  sits  by,  and  it  is  only  to  take 
away  more  of  the  dross.  If  less  fire  would 
do,  we  should  not  have  it  so  much  and  so 
often.  0  for  faith  to  trust  the  Refiner,  and 
to  refer  all  to  his  will  and  wisdom,  and  to 
wait  the  issue — for  I  have  been  young,  and 
now  am  old,  but  I  never  yet  saw  it  in  vain 
to  seek  God,  and  to  hope  in  Him." 

At  another  time  he  thus  writes:  "Tough 
and  knotty  blocks  must  have  more  and  more 


252 


LIFE  OP  THE 


wedges;  our  heavenly  Father,  when  he 
judges,  will  overcome.  We  hear  of  the 
death  of  dear  S.  T.  and  chide  ourselves  for 
being  so  often  pleased  with  his  little  pretty- 
fashions,  lest  we  offended  therein,  by  being 
too  much  so.  No  rival  must  sit  with  Him  in 
his  throne,  who  deserves  all  our  love  and 
joy,  and  has  too  little  of  it." 

At  another  time  upon  the  death  of  an- 
other little  one :  "  The  dear  little  one  (says 
he)  made  but  a  short  passage  through  this  to 
another  world,  where  it  is  to  be  for  ever  a 
living  member  of  the  great  body,  whereof 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  ever-living  head;  but  for 
which  hope  there  were  cause  for  sorrow 
indeed.  If  he  that  gives  takes,  and  it  is  but 
his  own,  why  should  we  say,  What  dost 
thou  ? 

At  another  time  upon  the  like  occasion : 
"  Our  quiver  of  children's  children  is  not  so 
full,  but  God  can  soon  empty  it;  0  for  grace, 
grace  at  such  a  time,  which  will  do  that  that 
nature  cannot.  The  God  of  all  grace  supply 
your  need  and  ours,  according  to  his  riches  in 
glory.  The  Lord  is  still  training  you  up  in 
his  good  school;  and  though  no  affliction  for 
the  present  be  joyous,  but  grievous,  never- 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY.  253 


theless  afterwards  it  yields  well ;  yonr  work 
is  in  every  thing  to  bring  your  will  to  the 
will  of  God." 

To  one  of  his  daughters  concerning  her 
little  ones,  he  thus  writes:  "They  are  but 
bubbles:  we  have  many  warnings  to  sit 
loose;  the  less  we  rely  upon  them  in  our 
joys  and  hopes,  the  more  likely  to  have  them 
continued  to  us.  Our  God  is  a  jealous  God, 
nor  will  he  suffer  the  creature  to  usurp  his 
throne  in  our  affections." 

Upon  the  death  of  a  little  child  but  a  few 
days  old,  he  thus  writes:  "  The  tidings  of  the 
death  of  your  little  one  were  afflicting  to  us, 
but  the  clay  must  not  say  to  the  potter.  What 
dost  thou  ?  If  he  that  took  be  the  same  that 
gave,  and  what  he  gave  and  took  was  his 
own,  by  our  own  consent,  it  becomes  us  to 
say.  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.  I 
hope  you  have  been  learning  to  acknowledge 
God  in  all  events,  and  to  take  all  as  from  his 
hand,  who  has  given  us  to  know,  I  say,  to 
know  (for  Paul  says  so)  that  all  things  do 
work  together,  (not  only  shall,  but  do)  for 
our  good,  that  we  may  be  more  and  more 
partakers  of  his  holiness.  He  can  make  the 
two  left  as  comfortable  to  you  as  all  the 


254 


LIFE  OP  THE  / 


three,  as  all  your  five  could  have  been. 
However,  if  all  the  cisterns  were  drawn  dry- 
while  you  have  your  fountain  to  go  to,  you 
are  well ;  you  may  also  by  faith  look  for- 
ward, and  say,  it  was  a  covenant  child,  and 
through  mercy,  we  shall  see  it  again  in  a  bet- 
ter world." 

Upon  the  sickness  of  a  dear  child,  he  thus 
writes  to  the  parent:  "You  and  we  are 
taught  to  say,  It  is  the  Lord:  upon  his  will 
must  we  wait,  and  to  it  must  we  submit  in 
every  thing;  not  upon  constraint,  but  of 
choice:  not  only  because  he  is  the  potter  and 
we  the  clay,  and  therefore  in  a  way  of  sove- 
reignty he  may  do  what  he  pleases  with  us 
and  ours; — but  because  he  is  our  Father,  and 
will  do  nothing  but  what  shall  be  for  good 
to  us.    The  more  you  can  be  satisfied  in  this, 
and  the  more  willing  to  resign,  the  more  like- 
ly to  have.    Be  strong  therefore  in  the  grace 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus;  it  is  given  for  such 
a  time  of  need  as  this.    I  hope  your  fears 
and  ours  will  be  prevented,  and  pray  they 
may;  but  thanks  be  to  God,  we  know  the 
worst  of  it,  and  that  worst  has  no  harm  in  it, 
while  the  better  part  is  ours,  which  cannot 
be  taken  away  from  us." 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


255 


To  one  of  his  children  in  affliction  he 
writes  thus:  "It  is  a  time  of  trial  with  you, 
according  to  the  will  of  your  and  our  hea- 
venly Father.  Though  you  see  not  yet 
what  he  means  by  it,  you  shall  see.  He 
means  you  good,  and  not  hurt ;  he  is  show- 
ing you  the  vanity  of  all  things  under  the 
sun,  that  your  happiness  lies  not  in  them, 
but  in  himself  only;  that  they  and  we  are 
passing  away,  withering  flowers ;  that  there- 
fore we  may  learn  to  die  to  them,  and  live 
above  them,  placing  our  hope  and  happiness 
in  better  things,  trusting  in  him  alone  who 
is  the  rock  of  ages,  who  fails  not,  neither  can 
fail,  nor  will  fail  those  that  fly  to  Him.  I 
pray  you,  think  not  a  hard  thought  of  him, 
no  not  one  hard  thought,  for  he  is  good,  and 
doth  good  in  all  he  doth,  and  therefore  all 
shall  work  for  good:  but  then,  as  you  are 
called  according  to  his  purpose  (blessed  be 
his  name  for  it)  so  you  must  love  him,  and 
love  (you  know)  thinks  no  evil,  but  puts  the 
best  construction  upon  all  that  the  person 
loved  says  or  does,  and  so  must  you,  though 
now  for  a  season,  if  need  be,  you  are  in  hea- 
viness." 

At  another  time:  "Your  t'mes,  and  the 


256 


LIFE  OF  THE 


times  of  yours,  are  in  the  Lord's  good  hand, 
whose  will  is  his  wisdom.  It  is  one  thing 
(as  we  read  and  observed  this  morning,  out 
of  Ezek.  xxii.)  to  be  put  into  a  furnace  and 
left  there  as  dross  to  be  consumed;  and  an- 
other thing  to  be  put  in  as  gold  or  silver  to 
be  melted  for  use,  and  to  have  the  refiner 
set  by.  "  You  know  whom  you  have  be- 
lieved, keep  your  hold  of  the  everlasting 
covenant:  he  is  faithful  that  hath  promised. 
We  pray  for  you,  and  we  give  thanks  for 
you  daily,  for  the  cup  is  mixed,  therefore 
trust  in  the  Lord  for  ever,  and  rejoice  in  the 
Lord  always;  again  I  say  rejoice.'' 

To  one  of  his  sons-in-law  that  was  a  little 
engaged  in  building,  he  thus  writes:  "Be 
sure  to  take  God  along  with  you  in  this,  as 
in  all  your  other  affairs;  for  except  he  build 
the  house,  they  labour  in  vain  that  build  it. 
Count  upon  troublesome  occurrences  in  it, 
and  keep  the  spirit  quiet  within  :  and  let  not 
God's  time  nor  dues  be  entrenched  upon, 
and  then  all  will  be  well." 

It  was  but  a  little  before  he  died  that  he 
wrote  thus  to  one  of  his  children :  "  We  re- 
joice in  God's  goodness  to  you,  that  your 
distemper  has  been  a  rod  shaken  only,  and 


REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 


257 


not  laid  on.  He  is  good,  and  doth  good; 
and  should  we  not  love  him,  and  rest  in  our 
love  to  him  ?  He  saith,  he  doth  in  his  to  us, 
and  rejoicethover  us  with  singing,  Zeph.  iii. 
17.  And  have  we  not  much  more  cause? 
What  loveliness  in  us  ?  What  not  in  him  ? 
I  pray  let  me  recommend  him  to  your  love: 
love  him,  love  him  with  all  the  powers  of 
your  sou],  and  out  of  love  to  him  please  him. 
He  is  pleased  with  honest  endeavours  to 
please  him:  though,  after  all,  in  many  things 
we  come  short,  for  we  are  not  under  the  law, 
but  under  grace." 

To  one  of  his  children  recovered  from 
sickness  he  gives  this  hint :  "  Remember  that 
a  new  life  must  be  a  new  life  indeed:  re- 
prieves extraordinary  call  for  returns  extra- 
ordinary." 

The  last  journey  he  made  to  London  was 
in  August  1690;  before  he  went,  he  sent  his 
farewell  letter  to  his  son  at  Chester:  "I  am 
going  forth  this  morning  towards  the  great 
city  not  knowing  but  it  maybe  jNIount  Nebo 
to  me:  therefore  I  send  you  this  as  full  of 
blessings  as  it  can  hold,  to  yourself,  my 
daughter  your  wife,  all  the  rest  of  my  daugh- 
ters, their  husbands,  and  all  the  little  ones, 


258    LIFE  OF  THE  REV.  PHILIP  HENRY. 

together  and  severally.  If  I  could  command 
the  blessings,  I  would;  but  I  pray  to  Him 
that  hath  and  doth,  and  I  trust  will.  The 
Lord  bless  you,  and  keep  you,  and  lift  up 
the  light  of  his  countenance  upon  you.  As 
you  have  received,  and  you  for  your  part 
preached  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so  walk  in 
him:  keeping  conscience  always  void  of 
offence,  both  towards  God,  and  towards  all 
men.  Love  your  mother,  and  be  dutiful  to 
her,  and  live  in  love  and  peace  among  your- 
selves, and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  that 
hath  been,  will  be  with  you.  Amen." 


FINIS. 


CATALOGUE  OF  BOOKS 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 


PRESBYTERIAN  BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

The  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian Church  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
have  recently  issued  the  following  valuable 
books: 

1.  The  Way  of  Salvation  Familiarly  Ex- 
plained, in  a  Conversation  between  a  Father  and  his  Chil- 
dren. 18mo. 

2.  The  Mute  Christian  under  the  Smarting 

Rod ;  with  Sovereign  Antidotes  for  every  case.  By  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Brooks.  18mo. 

3.  The  Great  Concern  of  Salvation.  By 

the  Rev. Thomas  Haly burton;  abridged  for  the  Board.  18mo. 

4.  Christian  Consistency;  or  the  connexion 

between  Experimental  and  Practical  Religion:  designed 
for  Young  Christians.    By  the  Rev.  E.  Mannering.  18mo. 

5.  Self-Employment  in  Secret:  containing 

An  Inquiry  into  the  State  of  the  Soul;  Thoughts  upon 
Painful  Afflictions;  Memorials  for  Practice.  By  the  Rev. 
John  Corbet.  18mo. 

6.  A  Treatise  on  the  Scripture  Doctrine  of 

Original  Sin ;  with  Explanatory  notes.  By  the  Rev.  Henry 
A.  Boardman.  18rao. 

7.  The  Pleasures  of  Religion.  By  the  Rev. 

Henry  Foster  Burder,  D.D.  18mo. 


8.  The  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes, 

and  ils  consequences  to  the  Protestant  Churches  of  France 
and  Italy ;  containing  Memoirs  of  some  of  the  Sufferers  in 
the  Persecution  attending  that  event.  18mo. 

9.  The  Utility  and  Importance  of  Creeds 

and  Confessions.    By  the  Rev.  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.  18mo. 

10.  The  Life  of  John  Knox,  the  Scottish 

Reformer ;  abridged  for  the  Board  from  McCrie's  Life  of 
Knox.  18mo. 

11.  The  Life  of  Captain  Wilson;  contain- 
ing an  account  of  his  residence  in  India;  his  conversion  to 
Christianity;  his  missionary  voyage  to  the  South  Seas;  and 
his  peaceful  death.  Abridged.  IBmo. 

12.  Letters  to  an  Anxious  Inquirer;  de- 
signed to  relieve  the  difficulties  of  a  friend  under  serious 
impressions.  By  T.  Charlton  Henry,  D.D.,  late  Pastor  of 
the  Second  Presbyterian  Church,  Charleston,  S.  C;  with  a 
Biographical  Sketch  of  the  Author.  Third  edition,  embel- 
lished with  a  Portrait.  ISmo. 

13.  A  Threefold  Cord;  or  a  Precept,  Pro- 
mise, and  Prayer  from  the  Holy  Scriptures,  for  every  day 
in  the  year.  32mo. 

14.  The  Duties  and  Responsibilities  of  the 

Pastoral  Office,  being  an  abridgment  of  the  Reformed  Pas- 
tor.   By  Richard  Baxter.  ISrno. 

15.  The  Offices  of  Christ;  abridged  from 

the  original  work  of  Stevenson.  By  the  Rev.  William  S. 
Plumer,  D.D.  IBmo. 

16.  The  Divine  Purpose,  displayed  in  the 

Works  of  Providence  and  Grace;  in  a  series  of  Letters  to 
an  Inquiring  Friend.  By  the  Rev.  John  Matthews,  D.D. 
IBmo. 

17.  Presbyterianism  the  truly  Primitive 

and  Apostolical  Constitution  of  the  Church  of  Christ;  and 
Infant  Baptism  Scriptural  and  Reasonable;  and  Baptism 
by  Sprinkling  or  Affusion,  the  most  suitable  and  edifying 
mode.    By  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.  12mo. 


18.  The  Spirit  of  Prayer.    By  the  Rev. 

Nathaniel  Vincent.  32mo. 

19.  The  Spruce  Street  Lectures,  by  several 

Clerg^ymen ;  delivered  during  the  years  1831-32.  To  which 
is  added,  a  Lecture  on  the  importance  of  Creeds  and  Con- 
fessions.   By  Samuel  Miller,  D.D.  8vo. 

20.  A  new  stereotype  edition  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  in  the  United  States 
of  America;  containing  the  Conlisssion  of  Faith,  the  Cate- 
chisms, and  the  Directory  for  the  V^orship  of  God :  together 
with  the  Plan  of  Government  and  Discipline,  as  ratified  by 
the  General  Assembly,  at  their  Sessions  in  May,  1821,  and 
amended  in  1833.  18mo. 

21.  A  Guide  to  Christian  Communicants, 

in  the  exercise  of  Self- Examination.  By  the  Rev.  William 
Trail.  32mo. 

22.  A  Friendly  Visit  to  the   House  of 

Mourning.    By  the  Rev.  Richard  Cecil.  32mo. 

23.  The  Doctrine  of  Regeneration.  Se- 
lected from  the  Writings  of  the  Rev.  Stephen  Charnock. 
12mo. 

24.  Love  to  Christ ;  chiefly  extracted  from 

the  "  True  Christian's  Love  of  the  Unseen  Christ."  By 
Thomas  Vincent.  32mo. 

25.  The  Life  of  Major  General  Andrew 

Burn,  of  the  Royal  Marines.  18mo. 

26.  Memoir  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Black- 

ader.  18mo. 

27.  Memoir  of  the  Rev.  George  Trosse, 

of  Exeter,  England.  18mo. 

28.  Scripture  Portions  for  the  Afflicted, 

especially  the  Sick ;  with  Reflections  from  various  authors. 
18mo. 

29.  The  Destruction  of  Jerusalem,  an  irre- 
sistible pr  oof  of  the  Divine  origin  of  Christianity.  18mo. 


30.  The  Christian's  Great  Interest;  or  the 

Trial  of  a  Saving  Interest  in  Christ,  and  the  way  to  attain 
it.  By  Rev.  William  Guthrie,  minister  at  New  Kilmarnock, 
Scotland,  1605.  With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Thomas  Chalmers.  18mo. 

31.  The  Life  of  Andrew  Melville,  the 

Scottish  Reformer.  Abridged  for  the  Board,  from  McCrie's 
Life  of  Melville.  18mo. 

32.  The  Lives  of  the  Patriarchs.  18mo. 

33.  An  Exposition  of  a  Portion  of  the 

Epistle  to  the  Romans,  in  the  form  of  Questions  and  An- 
swers.   By  J.  J.  Janeway,  D.D.  18mo. 

34.  A  Blow  at  the  Root  of  Antinomianism. 

By  the  Rev.  John  Flavel.  32mo. 

35.  The  Fulfilling  of  the  Scripture,  for 

Confirming  Believers  and  Convincing  Unbelievers.  By  the 
Rev,  Robert  Fleming.  Abridged  from  the  third  edition. 
18mo. 

36.  Lime  Street  Lectures;  a  Defence  of 

some  Important  Doctrines  of  the  Gospel.  In  twenty-six 
Sermons,  by  several  eminent  Divines.  8vo. 

37.  The  Novelty  of  Popery,  and  the  An- 
tiquity of  the  Religion  of  Protestants,  proved  by  Scripture 
and  History.  12mo. 

38.  A  Series  of  Tracts  on  the  Doctrines, 

Order  and  Polity  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  of  America;  embracing  several  on  practical  subjects. 
2  vols.  12 mo. 

39.  The  Form  of  Government,  the  Disci- 
pline, and  Directory  for  Worship  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States  of  America.  18mo. 

40.  The  Larger  Catechism  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Assembly;  with  Proofs  from  the  Scriptures.  18mo. 

41.  The  Saints'  Encouragement  to  Dili- 
gence in  Christ's  service.  By  the  Rev.  James  Janeway. 
18mo. 


42.  The  Return  of  Prayers.   By  Thomas 

Goodwin,  B.D.  32mo. 

43.  The  Mystery  of  Godliness.    By  the 

Rev.  Thomas  Bradbury.  2  vols.  12mo. 

44.  Sketches  of  Church  History.  Com- 
prising a  regular  series  of  the  most  important  and  interest- 
ing events  in  the  History  of  the  Church,  from  the  birth  of 
Christ  to  the  nineteenth  century.  By  the  Rev.  James 
Wharey.  18mo. 

45.  The  Life  of  the  Rev.  John  Owen,  to- 
gether with  the  Life  of  the  Rev.  John  Janeway,  in  1  vol. 
Abridged  for  the  Board.  18mo. 

46.  The  Life  of  the  Rev.  Richard  Baxter. 

Abridged  for  the  Board.  18mo. 

47.  The  Christian  Education  of  the  Chil- 
dren and  Youth  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  By  Rev. 
Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.  ISmo. 

48.  The  Prophetic  Blessings  of  Jacob  and 

Moses,  respecting  the  Twelve  Tribes  of  Israel.  32mo. 

49.  Memoirs  of  the  Rev.  John  Rodgers, 

D.  D.  late  Pastor  of  the  Wall  Street  and  Brick  Churches  in 
the  City  of  New  York.    By  Samuel  Miller,  D.  D.  ISmo. 

50.  Divine  Conduct ;  or  the  Mystery  of 

Providence :  wherein  the  being  and  efficacy  of  Providence 
are  asserted  and  vindicated  ;  the  methods  of  Providence,  as 
it  passes  through  the  several  stages  of  our  lives,  opened; 
and  the  proper  course  of  improving  all  Providences  pointed 
out.   By  the  Rev.  John  Flavel.  18mo. 


DATE  DUE 

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